Hundred of thousands of dollars have been donated to save The Stonewall Inn, which was designated a US National Monument in 2016 in recognition of the Stonewall uprising.
In the wake of the owners warning that the pandemic had threatened it with closure the week before the 50th anniversary of the riots, people began donating and the fund stands at over $300,000.
The business had said: “Our doors have been closed for over three months to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of patrons, staff and the community.
“Even in the best of times it can be difficult to survive as a small business and we now face an uncertain future. Even once we reopen, it will likely be under greatly restricted conditions limiting our business activities.”
A crowdfunding campaign has so far raised £309,000 to help secure the future of the bar.
The Gill Foundation which provides grants to queer organisations across the US, also pledged $250,000 to the historic venue’s rescue package.
Co-chairs Scott Miller and Tim Gill said: “Queer people of colour – including trans women of colour like Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Major – led the uprisings against police brutality at Stonewall and in doing so helped spark the movement for LGBT+ equality.
“We must preserve that history and the legacy of the activists who led the charge.”
