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Obama preparing to name NYC’s Stonewall Inn 1st national monument for gay rights

NEW YORK  — President Barack Obama is preparing to designate the Stonewall Inn in New York the first national monument dedicated to gay rights. That’s acc...
Stonewall_Inn_2012_with_gay-pride_flags_and_banner

NEW YORK  — President Barack Obama is preparing to designate the Stonewall Inn in New York the first national monument dedicated to gay rights.

That’s according to two individuals familiar with the Obama administration’s plans. The individuals weren’t authorized to discuss the plans publicly and requested anonymity.

The tavern in Greenwich Village was the site of a 1969 uprising widely viewed as the start of the modern gay civil rights movement.  A police raid on June 28, 1969 triggered a riot by a group of transgender, lesbian and gay male patrons objecting to the continuing harassment by authorities. That night they blockaded officers in the building for a time. The event triggered several nights of riots and the following year, LGBT groups staged a parade to mark the anniversary.

Proposals being considered would cover a small park on the street where the bar is located and the surrounding area. The building was designated as a New York City official landmark in 2015.

The Interior Department says Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and the head of the National Park Service will travel to New York for a public meeting on the proposals Monday.

The Washington Post first reported the meeting. The White House declined to comment.

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