Station Renaming Honors Iconic Stonewall Inn, the Birthplace of the Modern LGBTQ+ Rights Movement
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced it is celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month with a historic subway station renaming of the Christopher St-Sheridan Sq Station in the West Village to Christopher St-Stonewall Station following Governor Kathy Hochul signing legislation enacting this name change into law this afternoon at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. The bill, which was sponsored by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Deborah Glick, passed both houses of the New York State Legislature earlier this month.
In honor of NYC Pride taking place this weekend, the MTA unveiled the new station signage alongside MTA leadership including MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber and New York City Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow, along with US Rep. Jerry Nadler, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, Assembly Member Tony Simone and NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher. Those in attendance encouraged New Yorkers and visitors alike to visit the sign, take photos, and celebrate a piece of American history.
The renaming reflects the neighborhood’s long history of being the center of LGBTQ+ rights activism and specifically the Stonewall Inn, which was the site of an uprising 55 years ago against police brutality and systemic discrimination, with riots breaking out in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, becoming the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Christopher St-Stonewall Station is located just steps away from Stonewall Inn and Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, which was officially opened by President Joe Biden minutes after the nearby renamed subway station was unveiled.
New Yorkers can celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month and show support for public transit by purchasing the “MTA Pride Christopher Street-Stonewall Station” t-shirt from the New York Transit Museum store.