This is probably long overdue. Sorry.
For the gay and lesbian community, heck, really all the marginalised communities that have faced discrimination in the past, the Stonewall riots are something akin to an independence movement. It was a historic moment of liberation that lead to the founding of gay rights in the United States.
The riots began at the Stonewall inn at the Greenwich village of New York, June of 1969 (haha 69). Two major groups of gay activists joined forces to confront and protest the police raids that had compromise the dignity and rights of the lgbt community. Around the same time, media outlets like newspapers were used to promote gay rights. Within a few years, due to the overwhelming pressure by the human rights groups, the abuse and discrimination towards the Lgbt community receded. However it would take nearly half a century before gay marriage was legalised in the States.
In June of 1970, the first ever pride parade was held in New York to celebrate the anniversary of the riots. Now, it is a common event held worldwide, across Europe, Oceania and even Asia.
