by Emily Lazration

This June, Democrats Abroad celebrates Pride Month by remembering the riot that sparked a global movement for LGBTQ+ rights. Pride began as resistance, and it was led by people who had been pushed to the margins for too long.

On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village. These raids were routine at the time, part of a broader pattern of harassment and violence faced by LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. Homosexuality was illegal in many states, and simply existing openly could mean threats, violence, arrest, or job loss. But that night, the community fought back. The uprising that followed lasted six days and sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Though accounts of that night vary, it is clear that transgender activists, especially trans women of color, played a vital role both during the uprising and in the movement it inspired. Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman and drag performer, became one of the most visible activists of the era. Along with Sylvia Rivera, a Latina trans woman, they co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) to support homeless queer and trans youth. Their activism wasn’t just about inclusion—it was about survival and justice for the most marginalized in the LGBTQ+ community.

For decades, the contributions of trans activists like Johnson and Rivera were sidelined in mainstream retellings of Stonewall. Today, their legacy is being reclaimed as central to the history of LGBTQ+ resistance. Their work challenged not only homophobia and transphobia, but racism, poverty, and police violence—issues that remain profoundly relevant.

This Pride Month, we honor its protest roots and the leadership of trans activists who helped spark it. As transgender people in America and around the world continue to face discrimination, violence, and political attacks, the fight for equality is far from over.

Democrats Abroad stands in solidarity with gay and trans communities everywhere. We encourage our members to learn from this history, support trans-led organizations, advocate for inclusive policy, and help build a future where all LGBTQ+ people can live freely and safely.