8. Some say Judy Garland’s funeral sparked the riot
The LGBTQ+ community revered actress Judy Garland because they felt many of her struggles with addiction and love paralleled their own. When her funeral occurred on June 27, 1969, many members of the LGBTQ+ community showed up to mourn her death. Following the funeral, some went to The Stonewall Inn to mourn or try to lighten their mood. It is for this reason that many believe her funeral is one of the reasons the police raid turned into a Pride riot in late June.
Although her funeral is not the only reason the riots occurred, the increased emotions on that day may have sparked the rally for gay recognition. Whether her funeral contributed to the riot or not, the changes for the LGBTQ+ community that would follow were long overdue.
