TL;DR
- Stonewall Inn replica to debut at London Pride.
- Mobile installation celebrates LGBTQ+ history.
- Partnership with Brooklyn Brewery highlights activism.
- Stonewall Inn IPA supports LGBTQ+ initiatives.
- Event commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising.
Hold onto your rainbow flags, London! This summer, the iconic Stonewall Inn is rolling into London Pride, and it’s bringing a slice of LGBTQ+ history with it. This isn’t just any ordinary float; it’s a mobile installation built on a converted bus that will recreate elements of the legendary bar where the 1969 Stonewall uprising ignited the modern Pride movement.
In partnership with Brooklyn Brewery, this installation will join the vibrant Pride in London parade, serving as a mobile stage for DJs and performers. It’s a celebration of the Stonewall Inn’s pivotal role in LGBTQ+ history, reminding everyone of the resilience and spirit that defines our community.
Located on Christopher Street in Manhattan, the Stonewall Inn became a beacon of hope and resistance for LGBTQ+ people. It was one of the few places where they could gather freely, dance, and express themselves without fear, until that fateful night of June 28, 1969, when police raided the bar. But instead of cowering in fear, the patrons fought back, sparking protests that would change the course of history.
“The Stonewall Inn isn’t just a bar; it marks the tipping point for the Pride movement,” said Stacy Lentz, co-owner of the Stonewall Inn. “It represents the moment when a community pushed into the shadows decided to stand up, speak out, and demand change. That energy is still what drives Pride today.”
Co-owner Kurt Kelly added, “In the early hours of 28th June, everything changed. What was meant to be another routine raid became something else entirely. People resisted. They stayed. They fought back. And over the next several nights, that resistance grew into something far bigger than anyone could have ever imagined.”
The partnership with Brooklyn Brewery isn’t just a one-off; it’s a long-standing relationship that began in 2017. They created the Stonewall Inn IPA to support the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, a nonprofit that funds LGBTQ+ community projects and advocacy work. “What many people may not know, is that we approached Brooklyn Brewery, and not the other way around,” Kelly revealed. “Since then, the Stonewall Inn IPA has become a symbol of visibility and support, and now the official beer of Pride in London.”
To mark this year’s Pride, Brooklyn Brewery has released limited-edition Stonewall Inn IPA packaging in collaboration with artist Rob Likes to Draw and the Queer Youth Art Collective. The design features hand-drawn illustrations inspired by the original venue’s brick façade and will be available in the UK until August 31.
So, whether you’re sipping on a Stonewall Inn IPA or dancing on the mobile stage, this year’s London Pride is set to be a vibrant celebration of our history, our community, and our ongoing fight for equality. Let’s raise a glass and honor those who fought for our rights, because Pride is not just a party; it’s a movement!