Despite its tremendous significance in the history of gay civil rights, the Stonewall Inn, on Christopher St., surprisingly lacks a proper commemorative plaque, in the opinion of new state Senator Brad Hoylman.
“Stonewall had nothing of prominence,” he noted.
But that will soon change.
Hoylman has worked with the Historic Landmark Preservation Center and the building’s landlord to create an appropriate marker that will be affixed to the exterior of the iconic gay bar. H.L.P.C. creates special terracotta medallions to pay homage to, not only brick-and-mortar buildings, but to what happened of importance inside them. The medallion will reference President Obama’s having mentioned the Stonewall in his second inaugural speech.
“He’s the first president ever to mention Stonewall. Period,” Hoylman noted.
A dedication ceremony will be held at the Stonewall on Tues., July 16, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be representatives from the L.G.B.T. community, and Maureen McLane, a poet for The New Yorker, will read a special commemorative poem written especially for the occasion.
