(Photo Credits: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA)

It’s been over three months since businesses (and most parts of the world, really) came to a screeching halt due to the strict quarantine procedures brought about by the coronavirus pandemic—a move that was done in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Unfortunately, a lot of businesses have shutdown permanently since then and a lot more will follow suit “over the next several months if the coronavirus pandemic persists,” according to this study, as reported by the CNBC. 

One such business is the Stonewall Inn but they are not raising the white flag yet.

Stonewall Inn has launched a crowdfunding via GoFundMe to seek much-needed support from the LGBT community. This is actually their second fundraiser; the first one however, has raised just a little over a third of their $60,000 goal and the COVID-19 crisis is far from over.

In a statement posted in their website, Stonewall Inn’s management said, “We are reaching out because like many families and small businesses around the world, The Stonewall Inn is struggling.” 

Further, their message reads: 

“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.”

As we all know, Stonewall Inn is the birthplace of pride. It is the birthplace of the modern day LGBTQ rights movement. 

Its contribution and significance to the LGBT community is so great that in 2016, President Obama designated Stonewall Inn, including Christopher Park, as the site of the Stonewall National Monument—America’s first LGBT National Park site. Even way back in 1999, the buildings, as well as its surrounding area, have already been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The following year it was also named a National Historic Landmark.

This year marks the 51st anniversary of Stonewall riots, guys, on June 28 to be precise. Stonewall Inn has changed hands several times over the years since 1969 but the current management promises to stand strong:

We resurrected the Stonewall Inn once after it had been shuttered- and we stand ready to do it again- with your help. We worked diligently to resurrect it as a safe space for the community and to keep the Stonewall Inn at the epicenter of the fight for the LGBTQ+ rights movement. It has been a community tavern, but also a vehicle to continue the fight that started there in 1969. Stonewall is the place the community gathers for celebrations, comes to grieve in times of tragedy, and rally to continue the fight for full global equality.

They added: “Today, we are asking you to help Save Stonewall!” Read their message in full here.

To help Stonewall Inn, click here.

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