USA/FILE: Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announces LGBT historic landmarks study

Record ID: 278401

  • Title: USA/FILE: Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announces LGBT historic landmarks study
  • Date: 30th May 2014
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - JUNE 24, 2012) (REUTERS) PEOPLE MARCHING IN GAY PRIDE PARADE, CARRYING RAINBOW-COLOURED BALLOONS
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABVOZB5CEQ8CCU0QBNHJ9REYPH
  • Story Text: New Yorkers reacted overwhelmingly positively on Friday (May 3) to an announcement from Interior Secretary, Sally Jewell, that the National Park Service plans to recognize locations of historical significance in the gay rights movement.
    Jewell made the announcement in front of New York City's Stonewall Inn, the site of a riot in 1969 that is widely recognized as a catalyst for the modern civil rights movement in the LGBT community.
    "This building, now 14 years ago, was named a National Historic Landmark and we're proud of that part of the National Park Service's role to preserve this part of history, but it's time for us to do more," Jewell said.
    "So we are announcing that we are going to be launching a theme study next month, the 10th of June, we are going to be pulling together our nation's finest scholars who will help us tell this story effectively for all Americans."
    The Stonewall Inn is currently the only LGBT-associated site that has been designated a national historic landmark by the National Park Service as a property having extraordinary significance in American history.
    Leaders in the LGBT community applauded the move.
    "It's incredibly exciting to hear this announcement," said Glennda Testone, Executive Director of the LGBT Community Center in New York City. "I didn't think that in my lifetime, a place like the Stonewall Inn will be thought of the way that we think of other landmarks. And so it's just incredible to see my history honored alongside everybody else's history in this country."
    Omar Sharif Jr., the national spokesperson for GLAAD, said "LGBT people in this country stand on the shoulders of the people who came before us. People who fought for marriage equality, for HIV and AIDS resources, for employment discrimination and so many other things. And today, we honor that and we protect the legacy of those people."
    Zachary Moonves, who moved to New York earlier this year from Boston, summed up the positive sentiment of passersby. "I think it's fantastic," Moonves said.
    "You know we're making great progress as a community so these milestones are very important for us."
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