Greenwich Village, New York City

Greenwich Village has always been a center for expression, and an oasis for art, music, and culture. It was once considered the "Bohemian Capital" due to its citizens who practiced "unconventional" lifestyles in the 19th century. It is home to the 1960's counterculture movement and the birthplace of the Gay Rights Movement. Many protests occurred here, inclusing the protest against the Vietnam War. During the 1960's, several abstract expressionists resided here including Andy Warhol, and singer Lou Reed. 

Greenwich Village is a historical hub for gay life and is arguably considered one of the "gayest" neighborhoods of New York City. During the mid 20th century (and before), members of the LGBTQ+ community had very few places where they could be their true selves, often keeping their gender and sexual identities hidden. There were some refuges, like the Stonewall Inn inside of Greenwich Village, where members of the LGBTQ+ community could be themselves and not have to be afraid of being arrested, or worse. 

 Works Cited

“A History of Greenwich Village.” StuyTown, https://www.stuytown.com/guides/greenwich-village.

Miller, Matt. “New York's Greenwich Village in the '60s: The Photos.” Esquire, Esquire, 21 Aug. 2020, https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/g14473188/new-york-greenwich-villa....

Parent Map

Map: Race, Gender, Class, Sex

Coordinates

Latitude: 40.733571900000
Longitude: -74.002741800000

Timeline of Events Associated with Greenwich Village, New York City

Date Event Manage
28 Jun 1969 to 3 Jul 1969

The Stonewall Uprising and the Spark of the Gay Rights Movement

The Stonewall Uprising, otherwise known as the Stonewall Riots, was a monumental progression towards gay rights in the mid-20th century. The uprising began on June 28th, 1969 and lasted until July 3rd, 1969. The riots began when Stonewall Inn, a haven for members of the LGBTQ+ community which still stands in Greenwich Village, New York City, was invaded by police officers who harassed and arrested patrons and employees. This was not the first offense, and onlookers usually fled the scene, but this time, they didn’t. The witnesses chose to stand up to the officers, during a time of strict oppression and cruelty towards the LGBTQ+ community. Coincidentally, the Civil Rights Movement had erupted in the previous decade, and the Stonewall Riots are another example of how humans who deserve rights and respect fought for that.

During the mid-19th century, there were restrictive laws for the LGBTQ+ community. It was illegal to serve alcohol to them, and for people of the same sex to dance with each other. But with restrictions and oppression, follows uprising and a demand for freedom and rights. Illinois was the first state to decriminalize homosexuality, which happened in 1962. After the Stonewall Uprising, the first gay pride parade was held in New York where thousands marched to commemorate the historical and monumental event. Shortly after, June became “Pride Month”, and several large pride parades still occur in areas all around the world.

Works cited

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Stonewall Riots.” Edited by Amy Tikkanen, Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/event/Stonewall-riots.

Kelly, Bob. “The Birthplace.” The Stonewall Inn, The Stonewall Inn, 5 Dec. 2017, https://thestonewallinnnyc.com/the-stonewall-inn-story/2017/4/4/ntmsg5ni....

“Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/stonewall-milestone....

 
 Image of the Stonewall Inn's front window The Stonewall Inn