New York, in particular, had a rule that the simple presence of someone gay or gender queer counted as disorderly conduct, effectively outlawing gay bars. In the late 1960s, being openly gay was largely prohibited in most places. Pride Month is observed in June to honor the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a touchstone event in LGBTQ history that laid the foundation for Pride. It is remembered today as being a turning-point in the movement for acceptance and equality. California is the first state in America to give Pride sanction by enduring statute.New York City’s Stonewall Inn was the site of a six day protest in 1969 against police harassment and discrimination against the LGBTQ community. In 2018, The governor of the Golden State, Jerry Brown, signed a bill into law making June the official, designated, and approved Pride Month for the State of California. Now, Gay and Lesbian Pride events and parades are planned annually in the month of June all over the country as well as internationally. The Stonewall Inn was declared a national historical landmark in March 2000, cited as the birthplace of the modern gay and lesbian civil rights movement. The event has been commemorated by annual celebrations in New York and Los Angeles in June, a tradition starting with marches on June 28,1970 marking the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion.
This uprising was the catalyst for the modern political movement for gay and lesbian liberation, calling for gay pride and action to secure their basic civil rights. These protests came to be known as the Stonewall Rebellion. Word spread quickly about the confrontation and large, outraged crowds gathered on ensuing nights to protest the mistreatment historically inflicted on the gay community. On that night, lesbians and gay men spontaneously fought back against police harassment for the first time. Patrons were physically forced out of their gathering places, sometimes beaten, and often arrested with no just cause. New York Beverage Control Board agents and NYC police officers raided the bar to enforce an alcohol control law that was seldom enforced anywhere else in the city. On the evening of June 27th, the usual crowd gathered at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village. The origins of Gay and Lesbian Pride month can be traced back to a turbulent weekend in New York City in June of 1969. This month is dedicated to appreciating the contributions and significance of the GLBT community, and celebrates diversity and civil liberties and rights for all. In the spirit of honoring equality and freedom, the president said, "I encourage all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate our diversity, and to remember throughout the year the gay and lesbian Americans whose many and varied contributions have enriched our national life." On JPresident Clinton issued a proclamation designating June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. Until fairly recently, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) individuals did not have a specific month during which to celebrate and commemorate Pride Days in the United States.