LGBT community leaders in New York seized on the Stonewall riots as a watershed moment and sought to transfer the anger and energy released by the raid into a powerful movement for equality and justice for LGBT people.
That night, fed up with being oppressed and harassed by law enforcement, the patrons of the bar-many of whom were drag queens-fought back against police with acts of violence and disobedience. The first LGBT Pride March was held in New York City on Sunday, Jto commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots which ensued following a police raid of the Stonewall Inn, an underground gay bar in Greenwich Village, the year before. But as we revel in our successes with Pride celebrations in big cities around the country and prepare for our own in Virginia, it is important that we understand how we got to this point and acknowledge the work of those who came before us. For many LGBT Americans, today is better than yesterday. There's no question that the wheels of progress are turning for the LGBT community, nationally and locally.
Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled that Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Closer to home, in his first official act as Governor, Terry McAuliffe, banned workplace discrimination against LGBT state employees and recently became the first Governor in history to issue a proclamation declaring June as LGBT Pride month in the Commonwealth.
