Why is LGBT Pride Month in June? A look back at the Stonewall Riots of 1969

Each June LGBT community advocates, activists and allies come together to engage in meaningful conversation, celebrate identity and bust out the rainbow flags in celebration of Pride Month.

But why is Pride Month in June?

The origins trace back to 1969 when the Stonewall Riots marked the first major demonstration for LGBT rights in U.S. history.

In the early morning of June 28, 1969, police raided a popular gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, in New York City's Greenwich Village. Located in an area popular with the then-shunned gay community, police claimed they were raiding the bar for serving alcohol without a liquor license, but it was common for law enforcement to target gay hot spots at this time in American history.

But the response from the bar's patrons sparked a wave of LGBT activism previously unseen in American culture.

RELATED: A look back at the Stonewall Inn raid of 1969

A crowd gathered on the street to peacefully watch as Stonewall employees were arrested, but spectators grew outraged when police started forcing three drag queens and one lesbian into a paddy wagon. It was then that the crowd began throwing bottles at the police, forcing officers to take shelter inside the bar.

"The queens were fighting the cops. The cops were fighting back," riot witness Henry Arango told HuffPost in 2015. "I saw police cars being put on fire. The drag queens were calling names, throwing rocks."

Two policemen were "slightly injured," before more officers were sent in to clear the mob scene. But the community was emboldened and rioting continued in neighboring Village streets throughout the morning and following days.

Today, the Stonewall Riots are recognized as the first major demonstration in the name of LGBT rights in American history. The unifying show of outrage and support spurred the creation of the Gay Liberation Front and many other civil rights groups, as well as heightening the LGBT community's overall presence on a national level.

In June 2016, former President Barack Obama declared the Stonewall Inn and the adjacent Christopher Park as the first national monument to LGBT rights in the country.

On June 28, 1970, the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, people gathered in Sheridan Square and marched up the Avenue of the Americas to hold a "gay-in" in Central Park's Sheep Meadow. This upcoming Sunday, lower Manhattan will host thousands of paraders as the city celebrates the 47th celebration of that same historic gathering.

The AOL logo will change colors on Friday, June 23 in honor of Pride month.

Every June, the global LGBTQ community joins together with Allies for Pride month. Since the 70's, celebrations have been held to commemorate the Stonewall Riots in New York and the 2015 Supreme Court case of Obergefell v. Hodges, which guaranteed the fundamental right for same-sex couples to get married. This year marks the first time that AOL and Yahoo are celebrating as Oath: A Verizon company. While individually our companies have shown our commitment to the community, we recognize the increased responsibility, because together, we represent more than one billion consumers. The LGBTQ employees at Oath understand our role as the voice of the queer community, our co-workers, users, friends and family.

Our company has been active across the globe this month educating, marching and remembering those who came before us securing our inalienable rights.

RELATED: A look at Pride month 2017

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