Early in the morning on June 28, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a Greenwich Village bar that had become a staple of New York City's underground gay community. But this time, tired of the ongoing raids, community members fought back, striking what would become known as The Stonewall Riots.

Early in the morning on June 28, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a Greenwich Village bar that had become a staple of New York City's underground gay community. But this time, tired of the ongoing raids, community members fought back, striking what would become known as The Stonewall Riots.

A year after Stonewall, the first Gay Pride March was held by the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee to commemorate the riots. The New York Times reported that the marchers took up the entire street for about 15 blocks.

A year after Stonewall, the first Gay Pride March was held by the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee to commemorate the riots. The New York Times reported that the marchers took up the entire street for about 15 blocks.

One of the first major successes of the movement came when the American Psychiatric Association removed Homosexuality from the DSM-ll, where it had been listed as a mental illness alongside pedophilia and zoophilia. Pride organizations began forming in major cities throughout the U.S. to continue the fight.

One of the first major successes of the movement came when the American Psychiatric Association removed Homosexuality from the DSM-ll, where it had been listed as a mental illness alongside pedophilia and zoophilia. Pride organizations began forming in major cities throughout the U.S. to continue the fight.

Following the 10-year anniversary of Stonewall and the assassination of Harvey Milk, thousands took to the streets for the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The struggle had been a collection of local ones, but for the first time, it garnered major national attention.

Following the 10-year anniversary of Stonewall and the assassination of Harvey Milk, thousands took to the streets for the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The struggle had been a collection of local ones, but for the first time, it garnered major national attention.

June 5, 1981, saw the first reports of a rare pneumonia that was killing gay men, and soon other diseases began to attack their weakened immune systems, a condition that would be known as "GRID" (gay related immune deficiency) until eventually becoming known as AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) when it became clear that everyone was vulnerable to HIV, the virus identified in 1984. AIDS would decimate gay men in the United States for more than a decade before effective treatments were found. Despite advances, HIV/AIDS remains a leading cause of death for gay and bisexual men in the United States.

June 5, 1981, saw the first reports of a rare pneumonia that was killing gay men, and soon other diseases began to attack their weakened immune systems, a condition that would be known as "GRID" (gay related immune deficiency) until eventually becoming known as AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) when it became clear that everyone was vulnerable to HIV, the virus identified in 1984. AIDS would decimate gay men in the United States for more than a decade before effective treatments were found. Despite advances, HIV/AIDS remains a leading cause of death for gay and bisexual men in the United States.

Pride celebrations had been established in many major cities in the U.S., as well as around the world. Heritage of Pride was founded in 1984 to takeover the planning of New York City Pride events from the disbanded Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee, former organizers of The March and Rally.

Pride celebrations had been established in many major cities in the U.S., as well as around the world. Heritage of Pride was founded in 1984 to takeover the planning of New York City Pride events from the disbanded Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee, former organizers of The March and Rally.

The U.S. Government had just passed Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but the good news was that gay rights remained front and center at Capitol Hill and on the streets of New York. Heritage of Pride took over the Christopher Street Festival, renaming it PrideFest.

The U.S. Government had just passed Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but the good news was that gay rights remained front and center at Capitol Hill and on the streets of New York. Heritage of Pride took over the Christopher Street Festival, renaming it PrideFest.

Obstacles, like the Defense of Marriage Act, continued to thwart the community nationally. Internationally, Heritage of Pride hosted the 16th annual International Association of Lesbian and Gay Pride Coordinators conference, the first to have substantial participation from international pride committees.

Obstacles, like the Defense of Marriage Act, continued to thwart the community nationally. Internationally, Heritage of Pride hosted the 16th annual International Association of Lesbian and Gay Pride Coordinators conference, the first to have substantial participation from international pride committees.

Vermont passed the first laws allowing for Civil Unions and Registered Partnerships among LGBTQIA+ couples. It was one small step that would help pave the way for future policies.

Vermont passed the first laws allowing for Civil Unions and Registered Partnerships among LGBTQIA+ couples. It was one small step that would help pave the way for future policies.

For the first time, same-sex marriage laws were passed in Massachusetts. Laws continued to ban gay marriage in Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oregon and Utah. Civil Unions were banned in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin.

For the first time, same-sex marriage laws were passed in Massachusetts. Laws continued to ban gay marriage in Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oregon and Utah. Civil Unions were banned in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin.

In California, another victory for same-sex marriage was swiftly struck down several months later when voters pass ballot initiative Proposition 8.

In California, another victory for same-sex marriage was swiftly struck down several months later when voters pass ballot initiative Proposition 8.

A federal court declared California's Proposition 8 unconstitutional, while Washington, New Hampshire, Maryland and Washington D.C. all recognized same-sex marriage. Though the struggle for gay marriage rights continued, steady and increasing progress was being made.

A federal court declared California's Proposition 8 unconstitutional, while Washington, New Hampshire, Maryland and Washington D.C. all recognized same-sex marriage. Though the struggle for gay marriage rights continued, steady and increasing progress was being made.

On the eve of Pride weekend, state lawmakers voted to make New York the sixth state in the nation, and the most populous thus far, to legally recognize same-sex marriages. The Empire State joined Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia.

On the eve of Pride weekend, state lawmakers voted to make New York the sixth state in the nation, and the most populous thus far, to legally recognize same-sex marriages. The Empire State joined Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia.

One of NYC Pride's 2013 Grand Marshal's, Edie Windsor brought her fight against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to the U.S. Supreme Court and won! The federal government now recognized same-sex marriages in states where they are legal, but the list still banning same-sex marriage was long.

One of NYC Pride's 2013 Grand Marshal's, Edie Windsor brought her fight against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to the U.S. Supreme Court and won! The federal government now recognized same-sex marriages in states where they are legal, but the list still banning same-sex marriage was long.

46 years after a riot at the Stonewall Inn ushered in the modern gay rights movements, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples can marry nationwide. The fight continued across the nation, as full protections (including housing, employment and public accommodations) proved illusive in many states.

46 years after a riot at the Stonewall Inn ushered in the modern gay rights movements, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples can marry nationwide. The fight continued across the nation, as full protections (including housing, employment and public accommodations) proved illusive in many states.