LGBTQ Civil Rights History Honored

Many consider the 1969 Stonewall Inn Riots the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement. That's why the announcement was made outside the historic bar on Friday.

It's a fairly well known name in gay rights history, but there are countless lesser known sites associated with the movement. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel said the study is meant to identify and celebrate their significance.

"We need to do more to tell of LGBT Americans when we tell our history," Jewel said.

The study is funded by gay rights advocate and founder of the software company Quaker Inc., Tim Gill. For 20 years, he and his group, the Gill Foundation, have been helping non-profits committed to equality.

"America is at it's best when it acknowleges and utilizes everyone," Gill said," and unlike many other societies, we are uniquely positioned to do that. The freedoms that we have must be extended to all."

A group of LGBTQ activists showed up at the announcement. They carried a large sign that read "Don't Stop at Our History. Full Federal Equality Now!" They said that the study is a nice symbolic gesture, but more federal action is need to strengthen protections for the gay community.

Veronica McClane was one the activists there. She said that the focus was not in the right place.

"It's not necessarily just a research issue. There needs to be ground work because these issues are real and they're happening,"McClane said. "There are violences all over the contry to us still and there's no full federal protection for us. So jus as a research based sort of awareness is not the answer."

But openly gay Manhattan Councilman Corey Johnson believes that understanding the history is essential to moving forward. He said change is a process that requires many smaller steps.

"This is a good step in giving full, accurate, and inclusive recognization of LGBT people and our history," Johnson said. "But this is not the panacea in making sure we have full equality. We need to keep fighting to for full equality at the federal level."

The study will begin on June 10th. It will be conducted by 18 scholars who are experts in the field. It's expected to be completed by 2016.