On June 28, 1969, police raided a gay bar called the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Patrons fought back, and out of the ensuing riots, the modern gay rights movement was born. Today, less than fifty years later, revelers returned to Stonewall to mark a new milestone: marriage equality. On Friday morning, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that same-sex marriage is a constitutionally given right in all 50 states.
So, of course, people partied.
We sent a crew down to see who'd come out and how they felt on this historic day. We spoke to a drag queen in a wedding dress, a woman Skyping with her wife in California (until today, their marriage hadn't been valid in their home state of Michigan), a very passionate 9-year-old — and we joined in the festivities a bit ourselves. Check it out in the video above.
Mayor Bill de Blasio hosted a pop-up party at City Hall at 3 p.m. today to unite two happy couples and re-affirm the vows between renowned playwright Terrence McNally and his partner Tom Kirdahy. "I am thrilled and humbled to legally unite two New York couples today," the mayor said in a statement prior to officiating the two weddings.
The couples, who were married in front of City Hall, publicly announced their vows in front of a cheering crowd. "To do it on this day in this city, where it all began, and all the courageous people before us," one happy bride-to-be told the NYC Mayor's Office. "We're honored and humbled to represent everyone out there." Watch it on Periscope.
The timing of the ruling couldn't have been better: On Sunday, the annual New York City Pride Parade marches through Manhattan. This year, there's an extra reason to celebrate.
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