8. George Segal’s Gay Liberation Monument (1980)

George Segal’s Gay Liberation Monument (1980)

Tucked away in the gated public park across the street from the Stonewall Inn, George Segal’s Gay Liberation Monument (1980) is likely to go unnoticed by many Pride Parade participants or passersby. However, the monument has significant hidden history — it commemorates the 10-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the beginning of the gay rights movement, and is the first piece of public art dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights. The sculpture was commissioned by the Mildred Andrews Fund in 1979, at a time when the public representation of gay people was still deeply controversial.

In Segal’s signature white-painted style, the monument depicts two male statues chatting, while two seated female statues converse on a nearby bench. The casual nature of the monument embodies the funder’s request that the piece “had to be loving and caring, and show the affection that is the hallmark of gay people,” as well as equally represent men and women. Deemed too controversial for its intended location, the sculpture was instead installed in Madison, Wisconsin from 1986 to 1991. It was finally moved to Christopher Park in 1992, where it remains a centerpiece for New York’s LGBTQ+ community today.