GREENSBORO, N.C. — Hundreds took to the streets of downtown Greensboro to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots Tuesday.
What You Need To Know
Greensboro Pride commemorated the 53rd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots downtown Tuesday
The organization is donating one dollar for every attendee to the Trevor Project
Typically celebrating in September, this is Greensboro Pride’s first event in Pride Month
Alternative Resources of the Triad, the group that presents Greensboro Pride, typically waits until September to celebrate Pride. This year, it remembered the Stonewall Riots with a march on the 53rd anniversary.
“We are getting out on the streets and letting people know that despite all the legislation going on, even right here in North Carolina, we’re not going to go quietly,” secretary Sarah Lanse said.
In the early morning on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City. People fought back against police, which led to six days of riots. It was the first event of the LGBT rights movement that was televised nationally.
Brian Coleman is the Greensboro Pride chair. Growing up, he didn’t know much about Pride or the Stonewall Riots, but he realized he was different. Now, he knows how important it is to celebrate differences and the trailblazers of the LGBT rights movement.
“Whatever they gave up to be able to live their truth, love who they love, not have to live in an environment of judgment and prejudice, and some of those people aren’t with us anymore, and for those efforts that they put forth, in being able to provide us with the equality that we have now, it is important that we remember them,” he said.
Marchers gathered at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum on South Elm Street, then moved to the Government Plaza on South Greene Street. They were met with voter registration, guest speakers and a candlelight vigil. Greensboro Pride also invited people to protest against the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Coleman does not believe society or the government has the right to tell others what to do with their bodies.
“I’m of the opinion of unless you can give life, you don’t have the right to determine who can. If we’re going to regulate reproductive rights of people, then we need to regulate reproductive rights of all people. Not just those carrying around a uterus with the ability to give life,” he said.
Greensboro Pride donated one dollar for every attendee to the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth. For more information on Greensboro Pride, click here.