Joe Biden Visits Historic Stonewall Inn In NYC

Former Vice President Joe Biden

Former Vice President Joe Biden surprised folks today by visiting the historic Stonewall Inn in New York City.

NBC News reports that, following two fund-raisers, Biden strolled into the West Village bar and chatted up patrons while taking photos with supporters.

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When Joe Biden shows up to your press day? Watch Beyond Stonewall Monday night on @smithsonian_channel! #smithsonianchannel #stonewall50

A post shared by Matthew Sinsheimer (@matthewsinsheimer) on Jun 18, 2019 at 11:39am PDT

Philadelphia Gay News founder Mark Segal, who was present at the 1969 Stonewall uprising, was there during Biden's visit.

"If you would have suggested something like this 50 years ago, the 18-year-old me would think you were an alien," Segal told NBC News in an email.

"His staff hearing that there was a Stonewall pioneer in the room brought us together," Segal added.

He said he and Biden shook hands and that Biden said, "Thank you for your service."

Chauncey Dandrige, a queer DJ and activist, was also caught off guard when Biden entered the bar.

"Just handed two Stonewall t-shirts to Joe Biden for him and his wife! Just another day at the office," Dandrige wrote on Twitter.

Just handed two Stonewall tshirts to Joe Biden for him and his wife! :)

Just another day at the office... — at The Stonewall Inn https://t.co/Pz4jeKeaXx

— The House Of Dandridge ❌ (@DJChaunceyD) June 18, 2019

In that this is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which began the modern LGBTQ rights movement, the landmark has garnered several visits by high profile folks like Madonna, Taylor Swift and now Biden.

Taylor Swift Makes Surprise Appearance At Stonewall Inn

Taylor Swift makes surprise appearance at historic Stonewall Inn

Pop star Taylor Swift surprised the crowd at the historic Stonewall Inn in New York City last night with an impromptu performance of her hit, "Shake It Off."

From Variety:

After a rousing pair of songs from Sara Bareilles — including a version of “Brave” that had virtually all of the 100-odd lucky people inside singing along — Swift was greeted by the evening’s headliner, “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

She thanked him for inviting her and said, “I heard this is Jesse’s favorite song to do at karaoke — which is an incredible rumor, I really want to believe it’s true,” she laughed and then turned to him. “So if there’s anything you feel like you want to jump in on, a part that you’re really good at, just sing, dance and be yourself — this is a really safe space!”

Before Swift performed, AEG, which co-hosted the event, presented Stonewall with a $50,000 check to support its Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative’s (SIGBI) development of an LGBTQ+ anti-bias training standard in conjunction with anti-bias training experts.

The performance occurred on the same day she dropped her latest single, "You Need To Calm Down," which name checks GLAAD and chastises homophobes.

I’m so happy I don’t have to keep this secret any longer. Look who came to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall at the Stonewall Inn. @taylorswift13, you are a gem. Thank you for everything you do for the LGBTQ community. We ❤️ you! 🌈 https://t.co/ICE2b3arxU

— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) June 15, 2019

#BREAKING - Taylor Swift makes a surprise appearance to sing “Shake It Off” during Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s cabaret show at The Stonewall Inn! @taylorswift13 #TaylorSwift #YouNeedToCalmDowm #Lover #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/TiriVhq0O1

— Charles A. O'Keefe (@CharlesAOKeefe) June 15, 2019

This is all just the latest in a string of actions by the 29-year-old artist in support of the LGBTQ community.

On May 31, Swift surprised folks by posting an open letter to her U.S. Senators asking them to support and pass The Equality Act, which would create federal protections against LGBTQ discrimination by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

During the 2018 midterm elections, she declared her opposition to virulently anti-LGBTQ U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). She also donated $113,000 to the Tennessee Equality Project to fight several anti-LGBTQ bills that have been introduced in the state.

#lettertomysenator https://t.co/EKYMXZw5U9 pic.twitter.com/Ym0mGeOHgc

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 1, 2019

Madonna's Midnight Surprise At The Stonewall Inn

Madonna prepares to surprise the NYE crowd at the iconic Stonewall Inn in NYC

Madonna surprised the crowd last night with a midnight appearance at the iconic Stonewall Inn in New York City.

Madge was recently named a ‘Stonewall Ambassador’ by Pride Live to help bring awareness to this year’s 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising on June 28, 2019. In honor of the anniversary, World Pride is being held in New York City this year.

Appearing onstage in an appropriate melange of leather, chains and glitter, the Queen of Pop noted, “This is the smallest stage I’ve ever been on.”

She then went on to address the diverse crowd about the memory and revolution of Stonewall (via Boy Culture):

“I see you! I stand here, proudly, at the place where Pride began, the legendary Stonewall Inn, and the birth of a new year.

"We come together tonight to celebrate 50 years of revolution. Fifty years of freedom-fighting. Fifty years of blood, sweat and tears — can I get an amen?! Fifty years of sacrifice. Fifty years of standing up to discrimination, hatred and — worst of all — indifference.

"And it all started here, at Stonewall. Let us never forget the Stonewall Riots and those who bravely stood up and said, Enough. Enough brutality, enough violence inflicted on this community, enough stigmatism, enough oppression, enough pain and suffering.

"We must never forget where we came from."

Madonna then launched into an acoustic version of her mega-hit “Like A Prayer.” That was followed by a duet of the Elvis classic, “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” with her son, David, on guitar.

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Omg #LikeAPrayer. Are you kidding me? #Madonna #HappyNewYear @prideliveofficial @thestonewallinn

A post shared by Todd Beeton (@toddbeeton) on Dec 31, 2018 at 9:20pm PST

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I made it Thru The Wilderness..........🔥🔥🔥 Back stage at STONEWALL INN!! 🏳️‍🌈 2019 came. in with a Bang!! 💥! #stonewall #pride #50th #newyear #newlife

A post shared by Madonna (@madonna) on Jan 1, 2019 at 10:47am PST

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What could be better than bringing in the New Year with The Queen and her beautifully talented son? Ummm...having a conversation with The Queen ( please, I hope someone recorded those MoMents 🙏🏻 ). Thank you, @madonna and the people who made this possible (I love you guys More than you know!!!) - you just made every shitty thing that happened in 2018 so Much better. 2019 is already looking up 🙏🏻👑 Special thanks to My hubby, who always supports My Madness!!! I love you to the Moon and back!!! ***If you repost My video, please make sure it is properly credited - Thank you!!!***

A post shared by Michele L. Ruiz (@micheleruiznyc) on Dec 31, 2018 at 9:37pm PST

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@madonna stopped by @thestonewallinn tonight, courtesy of @prideliveofficial, to ring in the new year with song. Thank you, Madonna, for helping us welcome the historic 50th anniversary year of the Stonewall riots with fellow #StonewallAmbassadors @levijfoster and @ryanjamaalswain. Happy 2019, rebels! #madonna #stonewall #stonewallinn #NYE #newyearseve #lgbtq #stonewallriots

A post shared by PRIDE LIVE (OFFICIAL) (@prideliveofficial) on Dec 31, 2018 at 9:34pm PST

(h/t Boy Culture)

News Round-Up: December 24, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Here's hoping Santa shows up looking half as hot as this 'Santa Daddy.' He sure isn't your parents' calendar Santa... ;)

• The Stonewall Inn announced that Madonna has been named a Stonewall Ambassador for the upcoming 50th anniversary Stonewall celebrations in June 2019.

• Don't miss the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors set to air Wednesday at 8 p.m Eastern on CBS. Cyndi Lauper is scheduled to sing a tribute honoring Cher; Kelly Clarkson performs in honor of country superstar Reba McEntire; plus honors for Philip Glass, Wayne Shorter and the creators of Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler and Alex Lacamoire).

• A new poll shows former Vice President Joe Biden would beat Donald Trump by 6 points - 42% to 36% - in a hypothetical head-to-head run for the presidency in 2020.

• The Advocate has compiled a list of the Top 10 Homophobes and Transphobes of 2018.

• The 'Old Gays' at Into were sat down and asked to identify several modern famous gays.

A few of the queer celebs the gentlemen nail immediately (Gus Kenworthy and Troye Sivan are clearly popular in the elder gay set), but others were met with big ole question marks ("These are people I've never heard of;" "I just don't watch current television").

Watch below. Pretty cute.

President Obama Will Name Stonewall Inn A National Monument Honoring LGBT History

President Obama is poised to announce the nation's first monument to gay rights located in Greenwich Village, New York City.

The monument would include the historic Stonewall Inn bar, Christopher Park, a sliver of green space across the street from the bar, and parts of the surrounding neighborhood.

New York's iconic Stonewall Inn, where the modern gay rights movement took root, will become the first national monument honoring the history of gays and lesbians in the U.S. under a proposal President Barack Obama is preparing to approve.

Via ABC News:

Designating the small swath of land will mark a major act of national recognition for gay rights advocates and their struggles over the last half-century. Since the 1969 uprising in Greenwich Village, the U.S. has enacted anti-discrimination protections, allowed gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. military and legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

The gritty tavern, known colloquially as the Stonewall, became a catalyst for the gay rights movement after police raided it on June 28, 1969. Bar-goers fought back, and many more joined in street protests over the following days in an uprising widely credited as the start of large-scale gay activism in New York and around the word. Annual pride parades in hundreds of cities commemorate the rebellion.

The White House declined to comment. Yet Obama has paid tribute to the site before, most notably in his second inaugural address in 2013. In what's believed to be the first reference to gay rights in an inaugural address, Obama said the principle of equality still guides the U.S. "just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall."

Stonewall Inn Named Historical Landmark By NY City Council

New York City's Stonewall Inn, where a police raid in 1969 ignited what many feel as the beginning of the LGBT civil right movement has been named an official historical landmark by the NY City Council.

The City Council voted Wednesday to make the Greenwich Village bar a city historical landmark, barring it from being torn down or having its exterior altered.

Stonewall became famous in 1969, when a police raid sparked a melee between cops and gay patrons. The confrontation helped spark the movement to secure rights for gays and lesbians.

“It is a tremendous part of our history,” said Councilman Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan), who represents the district and is gay. “Because of the real estate boom and pressures we’ve seen in the Village and all across Manhattan, we needed this further level of protection.”

In June, Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the status, but the City Council's vote was necessary to finalize the deal.