News

New Yorkers Want Christopher Park To Become A National Monument

Christopher Park, located in front of the Stonewall Inn, is best known as the home to "Gay Liberation." According to New York Curbed, it is also the only public monument commemorating the gay rights movement in the United States.

Today, LGBT New Yorkers and Greenwich Village residents are making a huge step to make it a national monument--that is, making it the nation's first site recognized for its historic importance to the gay rights movement.

According to the DNA Info, Senator Brad Hoylman, who is also one of New York's openly gay legislators, issued a resolution supporting the proposal. He released a statement on Community Board 2 saying, "So many of us have organized our lives around Stonewall."

The resolution was written by Doris Diether, the longest-serving community board member in New York City, and also an activist for the Village since the 1950s. It urges the Community Board 2 to support a strong resolution in favor of federal recognition of the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park. Diether also said that the National Park Service works closely with all community stakeholders to develop a plan that will present LGBT history.

The resolution also aims to preserve and protect the character and use of the neighborhood park.

Supporters, however, doubt their ability to persuade the Congress. It has been noted that monuments can only be designated by congressional legislation or via a proclamation by the president.

On this note, the supporters felt that they will be having a chance with President Barack Obama. According to DNA Info, Obama has already cited that Stonewall is a place where a definitive moment in U.S. civil rights history took place. 

"I am not a fan of the Stonewall Inn being designated the birthplace of our movement. What I am in favor of is [designating] the street in front of it, where people... where we found our courage," says Jim Fouratt, a self-described gay New Yorker who also supports the resolution.

The proposed national park will not include the actual bar but only its façade, which has been untouched since 1969.


Join the Discussion
Real Time Analytics