Stonewall Inn set for historic ‘landmark’ status

The Stonewall Inn, famed as the setting for the 1969 riots which triggered the first major LGBT rights protests, could be granted landmark status by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, it has been announced.

The committee will meet tomorrow (June 2) to discuss the Greenwich Village bar’s status, and then decide if the decision should be opened up to a public hearing.

If approved, The Stonewall Inn will be the first place to ever receive a landmark status based on its contributions to the LGBT community.

Having recognition from the Landmarks Preservation Commission is a huge honour and brings with it more protection than federal or state recognition, and various political figures from around the Stonewall area have spoken out about the decision.

Gay City Council member Corey Johnson, living in the Stonewall district, can’t believe that the historic venue hasn’t already received landmark status, telling Gay City News, “It’s shocking that in 2015 the Stonewall Inn was never recognized as an individual landmark given its hugely important symbolism and history.”

Brad Hoylman, an openly gay State Senator, also from the Stonewall district said, “The landmarks law has not permitted buildings that have cultural significance but minimal architectural or aesthetic significance to be individual landmarks. I am pleased to see the shift in how landmarks will be considered generally and that it is starting with Stonewall, which is a human rights icon across the globe.”

WORDS BY KARL HUGHES