washington president barack obama friday designate site watershed event history u.s. gay right 1969 stonewall riot new york city national monument first honor contributions gay americans stonewall inn gay bar manhattan greenwich village scene police raid trigger riot ignite long struggle bring lesbian gay bisexual transgender people american mainstream guarantee right welcome family national park service say tweet welcome 412th site lgbt right advocacy group hail national recognition say help highlight gay communities continue struggle especially aftermath june 12 mass shoot gay nightclub florida kill 49 people new national monument source inspiration new generation americans across country stand equality unite show world love conquer hate human right campaign president chad griffin say move late several step obama take gay right presidency 2010 sign law repeal policy ban gays serve openly u.s. military 2012 become first president support gay marriage stance admit take time evolve administration also support legal challenge lead 2015 u.s. supreme court rule legalize gay marriage nationwide important distance yet travel political engagement litigation well individual act courage acceptance movement make tremendous progress toward secure equal right equal dignity obama say proclamation officially designate historic site events late june early july 1969 new york help start modern american gay right movement week violent clash christopher street patrons stonewall inn police periodically raid bar arrest gays morals laws era become know stonewall riot crackdown also tie dispute mafia own bar corrupt police officer seek payoffs protection unleash year protest culminate first gay pride parade 1970. year weekend lgbt pride festivities start new york friday street fair culminate sunday parade low manhattan events schedule across country san francisco minneapolis oklahoma city elsewhere obama designation protect 7.7 acres 3.1 hectares land include stonewall inn nearby christopher park u.s. lawmakers represent new york statement call site beacon liberation draw renew attention wake month massacre orlando another gay venue nightclub call pulse mourners new york flock inn create makeshift memorial shoot bad attack modern u.s. history honor new monument white house release video play billboards new york time square saturday u.s. officials also hold designation ceremony stonewall monday new york lgbt bar become first u.s. monument gay right