American Experience (1988)

Episode Overview

In 1969, being gay was criminalized in nearly every state, but a significant shift was on the horizon. The Stonewall riots became a pivotal moment in the contemporary fight for LGBTQ+ rights. On June 28, 1969, police conducted a raid on the Stonewall Inn, a well-known gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village. This sparked intense protests that unfolded over the following six days. The events at Stonewall would come to symbolize a critical juncture in the struggle for gay civil rights in the United States and beyond.