Gay Pride 2019: Lady Gaga, Thousands More Celebrate Stonewall 50

Thousands of people converged Friday on the Stonewall Inn for the 50th anniversary of the rebellion that catalyzed a movement for LGBTQ liberation, marking the milestone with celebrity performances, speeches and personal reflections.

People from New York and afar came to take photos and share in the legacy of the gay bar where patrons resisted a police raid, sparking protests and longer-term organizing that made the cause considerably more visible.

“Fifty years ago, people stood up for their rights, and look where we’re at now. We’ve got flags all over the city,” said Richard Walker, 58, an airline worker from New York. “I’m getting goosebumps just really thinking about it.”

With the modern incarnation of the Stonewall Inn as the focal point, the day’s celebrations included music, speeches and an evening rally. Lady Gaga, Whoopi Goldberg, Alicia Keys, drag performers and other artists at the advocacy organization Pride Live’s Stonewall Day Concert addressed a crowd that stretched for blocks on a nearly 90-degree afternoon.

“This community has fought and continued to fight a war of acceptance, a war of tolerance,” Lady Gaga said. “You are the definition of courage.”

Robert Beaird traveled from Dallas to attend the Stonewall anniversary events a couple of years after coming out in his 50s.

“I just kind of hid who I was for my whole life, and then within the last two years, I’ve been going through this kind of cathartic experience of accepting myself,” said Beaird, 53, who had been married and fathered children. “Just to be here with all these people is pretty amazing.”

Jocelyn Burrell isn’t gay, but she made her way to the Stonewall Inn because she was struck by how welcoming it was when she stopped in there years ago, and she feels a sense of common cause with its place in history.

“Just like we fought — black people fought — for civil rights, I feel I should support other people who fight for civil rights,” she said.

Friday’s events were kicking off a big weekend of Pride festivities in New York and elsewhere. In New York, Sunday’s huge WorldPride parade — and an alternative march intended as a less corporate commemoration of Stonewall — also will swing past the bar.

Cities around the world began celebrating Pride on Friday. Participants in a march in the Philippines went by the presidential palace in Manila, waving placards as they marked the 25th year since the first such gathering.

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[sambradley]

Happy 50 to the LGBTQ Community! Stonewall was not just a rebellion, it was a revolution! ✊🌈

[clippedod]

They booed her when she said she is not a part of the community but when she said I sometimes like girls they clapped🤦🏿‍♀️🤦🏿‍♀️🤦🏿‍♀️

[somethungtwink]

LGBT people stand with pride as a gay man we all are proud of ourselves

Here's a fun fact...the stonewall inn was run by the mob to extort gay businessmen by threatening to tell their boss'sand wife's .

[nguyenthihongngoc]

People saying that Gaga is fake, pls look for her songs that she wrote for LGBT to encourage them. "Born this way" is an example. And the whole career progress, she always try to inspire, believe, encourage and protect them as possible... should think twice before speaking out sth.

[Equus]

Love Lady Gaga and I love all my LGBT friends too! :D Rock on!

[SoapyOaksFarm]

How exciting, I so wish I could have traveled to NYC to see this, but thanks so much for sharing this monumental event.

[cristianlopez]

Thanks gaga for all your support i love you

[stormypinkness]

Nice one, I can see the haters have already showed up. So obsessed with gay guys...

[mrpanda]

Dang this is gay and bisexual and f I guess weis

[MrOvchiyan]

The only flag you should have over your head is your country's flag. Period.

[EMPRESSGLADYS]

Stonewall didn't start anything. San Francisco in particular led the charge for Gay Rights. When Stonewall occurred, the New York press gave it national coverage: and thereafter, led by San Francisco, the varied and disparate efforts coalesced to form the modern Gay Rights movement. San Francisco has been at the vanguard of the movement, while New York has been largely absent. The New York press is trying to hijack history and recast New York in the role that San Francisco actually played in the struggle for Gay Rights. Undeserved and Stolen Valor!!!

[shadowbanned]

Lady Gaga is awesome, she is fleecing them all!

[ethxn]

where is a dodge challenger when you need one

[saintracheljarodm.holy-kay]

Gaga you are awesome, and a beautiful soul, and you look like you ran through a rainbow, sweetie, 😁 God bless amen.🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸🇺🇳

[saskiaisskra]

Great! Let people be whom they are or whom the wish to become.... if u are christian, great. But dont judge others. Everyone has an opinion. But once someone acts to harm another or moves to take away someone else's equality or freedom or safety overalk, that is where hate, bigotry and true sin begins. Love your neighbor.

[angelazhou]

The people really need to learn when to boo and when to clap🤦🏻‍♀️

[JonahEdward]

WTF is up with the dislikes?! Grow up people!

[jeremiahjohnson]

i love BEANS.. blavk beans, green beans, pinto beans.. and LEZ-BEANS..

[josephcolella]

Can you explain to me why what you do behind closed doors should be out in the open for all to know? Who you choose to be your partner is your business why scream it from the mountain tops? Why do I care if you’re a homosexual or heterosexual that’s your business so why all the hoopla?Why must this agenda be forced down my throat? How you want to live your life and who or what you want to do is your business.