Stacy Lentz

Last updated
Stacy Lentz 2023.jpg

Stacy Marie Lentz (born April 17, 1970) is an American lesbian LGBT rights activist, and a co-owner of the Stonewall Inn, and co-founder of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. [1] Stonewall Inn is the birthplace of the modern gay rights movements after the 1969 Stonewall riots and forms part of the Stonewall National Monument.

In 1994, Lentz moved from her home state of Kansas to New York, became a recruiter, and later joined a team of investors that saved and reopened the Stonewall Inn, a U.S National Historic Landmark.

In 2017, Stacy Lentz, Kurt Kelly, Bill Morgan, Tony DeCicco and Bob Kelly launched The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, which provides financial, educational, and strategic help to grassroots organizations that support members of the LGBTQ community. [2]

In 2019 Lentz spearheaded the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots with the Launch of The Stonewall Gives Back Safe Spaces certification program. [3] The program was kicked off by a Pride performance by Taylor Swift at the Stonewall Inn. [4]

Stonewall and activism

The Stonewall Inn, "widely considered to be the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for gay and lesbian rights in the United States", [5] had fallen into disrepair in the early 2000s. Together with Kurt Kelly, Bill Morgan and Tony DeCicco, Lentz became a co-partner/investor in 2006 after saved the Inn from closure. [6]

Lintz was the first lesbian investor in Stonewall's history. Lentz began using her position for activism by organizing or hosting events for GLAAD, Marriage Equality USA, the Hetrick-Martin Institute, HRC, the New York City Anti Violence Project (AVP), Sylvia's Place, Lambda Legal, and others. Lentz also helped organize the March for Marriage rally, uniting more than 80 LGBT organizations and thousands of people to call for the repeal of DOMA in 2013. [7] Lentz planned Stonewall Inn's 40th anniversary celebration, which raised thousands of dollars to benefit the Hetrick Martin Institute home of the Harvey Milk High School in New York City. [8]

Lentz has received notice for her activism. This has included honors from AVP and HBO, as well as a Community Heroes Award, after she helped organize a vigil and rally in response to a gay bashing at the Stonewall inn. [9] She was awarded the Stonewall Community Foundation's Hero Award in 2010 for her activism and work in the LGBT community. [10] Lentz was listed as one of GO Magazine's "100 Women We Love" in 2013. [11] In addition, Lentz launched the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative in 2017. [12]

Lentz and GLAAD threatened to boycott Guinness, one of the major sponsors of New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade, which would not not allow LGBT people to march, if Guinness did not withdraw its sponsorship. The year after Guinness withdrew its sponsorship, LGBT groups were allowed in the parade. [13] [14] [15]

Due to her activism and involvement at Stonewall and within the gay community at large, multiple outlets have quoted Lentz on her reaction to major LGBT events including DOMA, [16] the overturning of DADT, [17] Obama making history by mentioning Stonewall in his inaugural speech, [18] [19] and President Obama declaring Stonewall National monument in 2016. [20]

As of 2023 Lentz lives in New York City [21] and Co-owner of The Stonewall Inn along with business partners .

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stonewall riots</span> 1969 spontaneous uprising for gay liberation

The Stonewall riots, also known as the Stonewall uprising, Stonewall rebellion, Stonewall revolution, or simply Stonewall, were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. Although the demonstrations were not the first time American homosexuals fought back against government-sponsored persecution of sexual minorities, the Stonewall riots marked a new beginning for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stonewall Inn</span> Gay tavern and monument in New York City

The Stonewall Inn is a gay bar and recreational tavern at 53 Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots, which led to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBT rights in the United States. When the riots occurred, Stonewall was one of the relatively few gay bars in New York City. The original gay bar occupied two structures at 51–53 Christopher Street, which were built as horse stables in the 1840s.

A straight ally, heterosexual ally, or cis ally is a heterosexual and cisgender person who supports equal civil rights, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ social movements. Individuals may meet this designation through their actions without actively identifying as an ally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">São Paulo Gay Pride Parade</span> Annual LGBT event in Brazil

São Paulo LGBTQ Pride Parade is an annual gay pride parade that has taken place in Avenida Paulista, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, since 1997. It is South America's largest Pride parade, and is listed by Guinness World Records as the biggest pride parade in the world starting in 2006 with 2.5 million people. They broke the Guinness record in 2009 with four million attendees. They have kept the title from 2006 to at least 2016. They had five million attendants in 2017. As of 2019 it has three to five million attendants each year. In 2019, it was also the second larger event of the city of São Paulo in terms of total revenue and the first in terms of daily revenue. In 2010, the city hall of São Paulo invested 1 million reais in the parade. According to the LGBT app Grindr, the gay parade of the city was elected the best in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Howard</span> Bisexual rights activist (1946–2005)

Brenda Howard was an American bisexual rights activist and sex-positive feminist. The Brenda Howard Memorial Award is named for her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vito Russo</span> American historian and LGBT activist (1946–1990)

Vito Russo was an American LGBT activist, film historian, and author. He is best remembered as the author of the book The Celluloid Closet, described in The New York Times as "an essential reference book" on homosexuality in the US film industry. In 1985, he co-founded the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a media watchdog organization that strives to end anti-LGBT rhetoric, and advocates for LGBT inclusion in popular media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NYC Pride March</span> Event celebrating the LGBTQ community

The NYC Pride March is an annual event celebrating the LGBTQ community in New York City. The largest pride parade and the largest pride event in the world, the NYC Pride March attracts tens of thousands of participants and millions of sidewalk spectators each June, and carries spiritual and historical significance for the worldwide LGBTQIA+ community and its advocates. Entertainer Madonna stated in 2024, "Aside from my birthday, New York Pride is the most important day of the year." The route through Lower Manhattan traverses south on Fifth Avenue, through Greenwich Village, passing the Stonewall National Monument, site of the June 1969 riots that launched the modern movement for LGBTQ+ rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT movements in the United States</span>

LGBT movements in the United States comprise an interwoven history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied social movements in the United States of America, beginning in the early 20th century. A commonly stated goal among these movements is social equality for LGBT people. Some have also focused on building LGBT communities or worked towards liberation for the broader society from biphobia, homophobia, and transphobia. LGBT movements organized today are made up of a wide range of political activism and cultural activity, including lobbying, street marches, social groups, media, art, and research. Sociologist Mary Bernstein writes: "For the lesbian and gay movement, then, cultural goals include challenging dominant constructions of masculinity and femininity, homophobia, and the primacy of the gendered heterosexual nuclear family (heteronormativity). Political goals include changing laws and policies in order to gain new rights, benefits, and protections from harm." Bernstein emphasizes that activists seek both types of goals in both the civil and political spheres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT pride</span> Positive stance toward LGBTQ people

Pride is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBT rights movements. Pride has lent its name to LGBTQ-themed organizations, institutes, foundations, book titles, periodicals, a cable TV channel, and the Pride Library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Pride</span> Annual LGBT event in Atlanta

Atlanta Pride, also colloquially called the Atlanta Gay Pride Festival, is a week-long annual lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBTQ) pride festival held in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1971, it is one of the oldest and largest pride festivals in the United States. According to the Atlanta Pride Committee, as of 2017, attendance had continually grown to around 300,000. Originally held in June, Atlanta Pride has been held in October every year since 2008, typically on a weekend closest to National Coming Out Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT people in the United States</span>

In the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people have a long history, including vibrant subcultures and advocacy battles for social and religious acceptance and legal rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ history in the United States</span>

LGBTQ history in the United States spans the contributions and struggles of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people, as well as the LGBTQ social movements they have built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National LGBTQ Task Force</span> US gay rights organization

The National LGBTQ Task Force is an American social justice advocacy non-profit organizing the grassroots power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Also known as The Task Force, the organization supports action and activism on behalf of LGBTQ people and advances a progressive vision of liberation. The past executive director was Rea Carey from 2008-2021 and the current executive director is Kierra Johnson, who took over the position in 2021 to become the first Black woman to head the organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Kate Ellis</span> American media executive (born 1971)

Sarah Kate Ellis is an American media executive and activist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ culture in New York City</span>

New York City has been described as the gay capital of the world and the central node of the LGBTQ+ sociopolitical ecosystem, and is home to one of the world's largest and most prominent LGBTQ+ populations. Brian Silverman, the author of Frommer's New York City from $90 a Day, wrote the city has "one of the world's largest, loudest, and most powerful LGBT communities", and "Gay and lesbian culture is as much a part of New York's basic identity as yellow cabs, high-rise buildings, and Broadway theatre". LGBT travel guide Queer in the World states, "The fabulosity of Gay New York is unrivaled on Earth, and queer culture seeps into every corner of its five boroughs". LGBT advocate and entertainer Madonna stated metaphorically, "Anyways, not only is New York City the best place in the world because of the queer people here. Let me tell you something, if you can make it here, then you must be queer."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stonewall National Monument</span> U.S. National Monument in Manhattan, New York

Stonewall National Monument is a 7.7-acre U.S. national monument in the West Village neighborhood of Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan, New York City. The designated area includes the Stonewall Inn, the 0.19-acre Christopher Park, and nearby streets including Christopher Street, the site of the Stonewall riots of June 28, 1969, widely regarded as the start of the modern LGBT rights movement in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madrid Pride</span> Annual LGBT event in Madrid, Spain

Madrid Pride, popularly known in Spanish as the Orgullo Gay de Madrid or La Noche de Patos and its acronym MADO, is the annual LGBT pride festival hosted at Chueca neighbourhood in the centre of Madrid, during the weekend immediately after June 28, International Day of LGBT Pride.

Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 was a series of LGBTQ events and celebrations in June 2019, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots. It was also the first time WorldPride was held in the United States. Held primarily in the metropolitan New York City area, the theme for the celebrations and educational events was "Millions of moments of Pride." The celebration was the largest LGBTQ event in history, with an official estimate of 5 million attending Pride weekend in Manhattan alone, with an estimated 4 million in attendance at the NYC Pride March. The twelve-hour parade included 150,000 pre-registered participants among 695 groups.

The National LGBTQ Wall of Honor is a memorial wall in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, dedicated to LGBTQ "pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes". Located inside the Stonewall Inn, the wall is part of the Stonewall National Monument, the first U.S. National Monument dedicated to the country's LGBTQ rights and history. The first fifty inductees were unveiled June 27, 2019, as a part of events marking the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. Five honorees are added annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pride Month</span> Monthlong observance celebrating LGBTQ culture

Pride Month, sometimes specified as LGBTQ Pride Month, is a monthlong observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer(LGBTQ) culture and community. Pride Month is observed in June in the United States, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests.

References

  1. ↑ "Directors". The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Welcome". The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "SIGBI Safe Spaces certification" https://stonewallinitiative.org/safe-spaces-designation
  4. ↑ , by Jem Aswad, in Variety Magazine; published June 14, 2019; retrieved September 20, 2023
  5. ↑ "The Stonewall Inn, National Historic Landmark National Register Number: 99000562.." National Park Service U.S Department of the Interior. Andrew Dolkart interview with Department of the Interior GLOBE 06 May. 2015 http://www.nps.gov/diversity/stonewall.htm
  6. ↑ Workin’ It, by Laurel A. Fantauzzo, Melissa Levin, Kat Long, and Dulci Pitagora, in GO Magazine; published September 5, 2008; retrieved May 8, 2015
  7. ↑ 100 Women We Love, by Kat Long, Jacqueline Frances and Andrew Collins, in GO Magazine; published June 14, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  8. ↑ Brunch with Stacy Lentz, by Karman Kregloe, in AfterEllen.com; published June 14, 2009; retrieved May 8, 2015
  9. ↑ Gay rights activists rally outside Stonewall Inn two days after Benjamin Carver attack, by Kerry Willis, in Daily News; published October 6, 2010; retrieved May 8, 2015
  10. ↑ Liberation in Truth Social Justice Center Director Receives Honor, by CenterLink; published November 2010; retrieved May 8, 2015
  11. ↑ 100 Women We Love, by Kat Long, Jacqueline Frances and Andrew Collins, in GO Magazine; published June 14, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  12. ↑ "Stonewall Inn Launches STONEWALL GIVES BACK INITIATIVE Featuring Chelsea Clinton and Ty Herndon". Broadway World. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  13. ↑ This Was the Gayest St. Patrick's Day Ever, Relatively Speaking, by Anna Merlan, in the Village Voice; published March 18, 2014; retrieved April 29, 2015
  14. ↑ VIDEO: Stonewall Inn restocks Guinness after it pulls out of the NYC St.Pat’s Parade, by Ross Murray, in GLAAD.org; published March 17, 2014; retrieved May 8, 2015
  15. ↑ Beer companies drop St. Patrick’s Day parade sponsorships in favor of gay rights, by Laura Nichols, in PRWeek; published March 17, 2014; retrieved May 8, 2015
  16. ↑ Tears and Toasts at Stonewall: Riot-Site Revelers React to SCOTUS Decision, by Kelly Gifford and Rebecca Hiscott, in Observer; published June 26, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  17. ↑ The Supreme Court Rules that The Defense of Marriage Act Is Unconstitutional And Legalizes Gay Marriage In California, by Morgan Clendaniel, in Fast Company; published June 26, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  18. ↑ Ushering In His Second Term, Obama Stands Up For Gay Civil Rights, by @LaurieInQueens, in The National Memo; published January 23, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  19. ↑ The pub mentioned in Obama’s inauguration speech, by Sarah McVeigh, in ABC Online; published January, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  20. ↑ Hetter, Katia; Liptak, Kevin (24 June 2016). "Obama names first national monument to LGBT rights". CNN. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  21. ↑ https://stonewallinitiative.org/stacy-lentz
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.