As Pride Month drew to a close, South Florida’s Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library ended June with a reminder of where the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement began, and how much has changed since then.
The museum hosted its third annual Stonewall Uprising reenactment in Fort Lauderdale, recreating the events that unfolded outside New York City’s Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. This year’s gathering carried a striking image: police officers standing alongside LGBTQ+ leaders and community members, a scene that would have been nearly unimaginable during the original uprising.
For many attendees, the reenactment served as both a celebration and a call to remember the fight that sparked Pride.
Bringing History to Life
Robert Kesten, president and CEO of Stonewall National Museum, said the event was designed to make history feel immediate and personal.
“Our goal from the start has been to protect history, by immersing people in it,”
he said.
“Our annual reenactment, soon to enter its fourth consecutive year, is a perfect example, inviting everyone to be part of an event that shaped the trajectory of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.”
“This is a cathartic celebration, bringing a historic moment in time to life and we are pleased so many people joined us this year, it is their support and the support of police departments that keeps this tradition going.”
The Stonewall Uprising is widely considered the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Frustration over years of harassment and discrimination, combined with the momentum of other social justice movements of the era, led to several nights of resistance outside the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village.
In the years that followed, advocacy organizations formed across the country, helping push LGBTQ+ issues into the national conversation and laying the groundwork for future legal and cultural victories.
Grand Marshals Get Their Moment
This year’s reenactment featured Kal Gajraj, executive vice president at CAN Community Health, and Rickelle Williams, city manager of Fort Lauderdale, who were invited to throw the first symbolic bricks.
Gajraj and Williams had been scheduled to serve as grand marshals for Wilton Manors’ annual Pride parade before severe weather forced the parade’s cancellation. Stonewall National Museum invited them to take part in the reenactment instead.
“Inviting Kal and Rickelle to be part of this year’s reenactment was an easy decision, one that amplifies our messaging and brings the community closer together,”
Kesten said.
“Both of them have worked tirelessly to create inclusive environments for all, and we wanted them to know how much we appreciate their efforts in an increasingly hostile state.”
A Different Relationship With Police
One of the event’s most notable moments came from the presence of officers and representatives from several local police departments.
During the original Stonewall Uprising, police raids were a central source of conflict. Seeing officers participate in a commemoration of that history created a powerful visual contrast.
“Seeing police officers and their departments align with the LGBTQ+ community is a wonderful sight, especially given our history,”
Kesten said.
“While the reenactment’s goal is to recreate the original day that sparked Pride, this connection displays how far we have come in many ways.”
Kesten also acknowledged that many LGBTQ+ people are feeling anxious about the current political climate and the rise of legislation affecting LGBTQ+ rights in Florida and across the country.
“It’s easy to feel demoralized in our current political climate, but we need all hands on deck to fight back against a new wave of discriminatory legislation across Florida and the overall United States,”
he said.
“By remembering our history, we remember that our community has been here before and persevered — we can do it again.”
About Stonewall National Museum
Founded more than 50 years ago in South Florida, Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library is considered the first LGBTQ+ museum in the United States and houses one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ archival collections.
The institution preserves millions of pages of records, photographs and historical materials documenting LGBTQ+ life, activism and culture. Through exhibitions, educational programs and public events, the museum continues its mission of connecting past struggles to present-day conversations about equality and human rights.
For information on upcoming exhibits and events, visit stonewall-museum.org.
