The Stonewall Uprising, often referred to as the Stonewall Riots, took place in the summer of 1969 in New York City. On June 28, the police raided Stonewall Inn, a bar frequented by queers in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood. Police raids on such establishments and violence against members of the LGBTQIA+ community were widespread and routine back then.

Tired of being harassed and abused, the community and its allies chose to resist as six days of spontaneous demonstrations broke out in the neighbourhood. This historic resistance against homophobia, transphobia, and police harassment marked a watershed moment in the gay liberation movement. The event inspired a generation of activists who demanded equal rights for the community and made greater visibility and recognition possible. Every year Pride Month celebrations are held across the globe to coincide with the Stonewall Uprising.