WATCH: Stonewall 2015: The Night Marriage Equality Became The Law of the Land
Thousands celebrate around NYC dive bar where the American gay rights movement was born 46 years ago this weekend.
"Stonewall 2015: The Night Marriage Equality Became the Law of the Land." Produced by Anthony L. Fisher. About 2 minutes.
Original release date was June 27, 2015 and the original writeup is below.
On Friday, the Supreme Court announced its 5-4 decision to strike down state bans on gay marriage as unconstitutional, making marriage equality the law of the land nationwide.
Reason TV once again reported from the jubilant scene around New York City's Stonewall Inn, the once-notorious gay dive bar widely recognized as the birthplace of the American gay rights movement, asking the celebrants what the moment means and what comes next.
As an added bonus, check out our reporting from outside Stonewall four years ago, when the New York State Senate narrowly passed a bill legalizing gay marriage in the Empire State.
"Stonewall 2011: The Night New York Legalized Gay Marriage" Produced by Anthony L. Fisher. About 2 minutes.
Original release date was June 28, 2011 and the original writeup is below.
On June 24, 2011, thousands gathered outside New York City's Stonewall Inn, anxiously awaiting the New York State Senate's vote on legalizing gay marriage.
When news came that the bill had passed on a narrow 33-29 vote, the crowd erupted with joy.
Stonewall is widely considered the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement. Forty-two years ago this weekend, a brutal raid by the New York's Police Department set off a spontaneous and prolonged rebellion that lead to the establishment of annual "Gay Pride" weekends around the world, and the slow and steady march toward equal protection under the law.
As the New York Times reported (and Nick Gillespie noted on Hit & Run), the bill's approval ultimately swung on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's appeal to several libertarian-leaning investors.
"Gay marriage is really just a fight about whether the government should be allowed to regulate personal liberty," noted New York magazine's Chadwick Matlin. "On that, libertarians side with liberals."
