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“My first day in New York was the day of the Stonewall riots. I was 17-years-old.”

Michael-Antony Nozzi had just graduated high school and arrived in the city to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. That same night, in the early hours of June 28 1969, police raided a gay bar called Stonewall in Greenwich Village. Their visit ignited demonstrations that would change the fight for LGBTQ+ rights forever.

Some half a century later, the LGBTQ+ liberation movement has taken hold and celebratory parades now happen across the globe. This year, Pride in London’s theme is Jubilee, paying tribute to the 50th anniversary of the protests, while events go on throughout Pride Month to mark the impact of that night in New York, as well as the outcry that followed.

One of these tributes is Riot Act, a play by actor and writer Alexis Gregory, which runs at the Arcola Theatre this month. Gregory interviewed Nozzi and relays to the audience his accounts of the riots and life afterwards word-for-word, hoping to keep the conversation about what happened alive.

“If the cops were bored that night, they could go raid the Stonewall,” Nozzi told Gregory, “punch a few people, take the cash out the register and that was just something ‘fun’ to do.”

Pride over the years - In pictures 70 show all Pride over the years - In pictures 1/70 Click through our gallery to see pictures of Pride over the years... Rob Stothard/Getty Images 2/70 A picnic in Victoria Gardens by the Houses of Parliament during what was then called 'Gay Pride Week', August 5, 1976 Peter Cade/Central Press/Getty Images 3/70 Members of the Gay Liberation Movement protesting outside the Old Bailey over Mary Whitehouse's court action against the Gay News Magazine on July 4, 1977 Malcolm Clark/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 4/70 The march goes on at Pride in 1984 Rex 5/70 Revellers in fancy dress at Lesbian & Gay Pride, London 1984 Rex 6/70 Lesbian & Gay Pride, London 1985 7/70 The sun shines down on Pride in 1992 Rex 8/70 Men in corsets perform a dance at Pride in 1993 9/70 A lesbian couple on Horseguards Parade at Pride in July 1994 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 10/70 A man applies lipgloss during Pride in June 1995 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 11/70 Men in camouflage trousers ride a pink tank and carry rainbow flags during Pride in June 1995 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 12/70 A man sashays down the street with pride in 1995 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 13/70 Demonstrators dressed in hot pants and crop tops at Pride in 1995 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 14/70 Two supporters of the Socialist Workers Party amongst the marchers at Pride in July 1996 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 15/70 Two young men share a tender moment on the grass during a Pride in London in 1996 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 16/70 Male dancers standing with their arms raised above their heads, donning black t-shirts with a heart logo, during Pride in 1996 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 17/70 Comedian Rhona Cameron and political activist Peter Tatchell help to hold a banner at Pride in July 1998. The banner called for an end to Section 28 which refers to the teaching and promotion of homosexuality by local authorities Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 18/70 The London Gay Men's Chorus perform at the Pride Mardi Gras parade in London, in July 1999 Steve Eason/Getty Images 19/70 Members of Outrage! carry pictures of Tony Blair with the title 'Broken Promises' at the parade in 1999 Steve Eason/Getty Images 20/70 Women share the love at Pride in 1999 Steve Eason/Getty Images 21/70 Two men wearing silver underpants and spiky collars take part in the London Pride march in 2000 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 22/70 Men share a kiss in front of spectators at Picadilly Circus in July 2002 AFP/Getty Images 23/70 A man wearing leather hot pants and harness makes his way through the streets of London to a party to celebrate the Mardi Gras in 2002 Scott Barbour/Getty Images 24/70 Policemen in uniform march along the Embankment at Pride in 2003 Bruno Vincent/Getty Images 25/70 Marchers, alongside more than 40 floats, bands and drummers are seen during the rally for Pride in 2005 Jeremy O'Donnell/Getty Images 26/70 London Mayor Ken Livingstone walks with the EuroPride parade as it makes its way down Oxford Street in July 2006 Scott Barbour/Getty Images 27/70 A man poses in a white feathered neckdress during the Pride march held in central London in June 2007 Mark Wieland/Getty Images 28/70 A Drag Queen poses during the Gay Pride in London, on June 30, 2007 Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images 29/70 The Gay Pride parade passes down Lower Regent Street on July 5, 2008 Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images 30/70 Two men in drag costumes with bouffant blonde hair pose at Pride in 2008 Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images 31/70 Police pose for a photograph before marching on the Pride parade in 2008 in London Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images 32/70 A man wears a home made costume at Pride in july 2008 Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images 33/70 Actor Sir Ian McKellen (left) waves at the parade in 2008 34/70 Boris Johnson, then Mayor of London, wears a pink stetson hat at Pride in 2008 35/70 A man decorated with neon face paint blows his whistle at Pride in July 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 36/70 Marchers in 2009, when the theme of Pride was 'Come Out and Play' Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 37/70 A reveller stands proud in a Union Jack-themed outfit in 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 38/70 More Union Jack-festooned outfits on show at Pride in 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 39/70 A man in butterfly wings at Pride in 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 40/70 A canine gets in on the action at Pride in 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 41/70 Revellers in hot pink dresses and blonde beehives at Pride in 2011 Warren Allott/AFP/Getty Images 42/70 Members of the British Armed Forces march alongside members of the parade through London's streets to celebrate the World Pride Festival on July 7, 2012 Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images 43/70 A man dressed as 'Mister Universe' marches in July 2012 Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images 44/70 Members of the LGBT community parade through London in 2012 Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images 45/70 People carry 'Proud to be Trans' signs as they march in July 2012 Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images 46/70 The Pride parade weaves its way down Regent Street on June 29, 2013 Will Oliver/AFP/Getty Images 47/70 A fabulous carnival costume on display in 2013 Will Oliver/AFP/Getty Images 48/70 A man dressed as a Dalmatian at Pride in 2014 Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 49/70 The rainbow gay pride flag flies on Whitehall in front of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square in March 2014 Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images 50/70 Leather-clad marchers at the Pride Parade in London on June 27, 2015 AFP/Getty Images 51/70 Girls carrying rainbow flags at Pride in June 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 52/70 Arm in arm, people celebrate the annual parade in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 53/70 People gather in Soho outside the Admiral Duncan following Pride in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 54/70 The London Gay Men's Chorus take part in Pride in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 55/70 A dog dressed in a rainbow coat as people gather to watch the parade in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 56/70 A giant rainbow flag is carried along with the parade at Pride in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 57/70 Steven Choo, aka 'Eva' walks in front of a marching band as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 58/70 Pride marchers wave American and rainbow flags from the top of a double decker bus with Parliament behind as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 59/70 Pride marchers wave American flags and dress as Hilary Clinton as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 60/70 'Queen Alexandra' aka Stephen Stephenson-Spencer, makes his way to the march as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 61/70 London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, and his wife Saadiya Khan lead the Pride march as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 62/70 Mitzi Macintosh gets ready to march as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 63/70 Shiro, a Siberian Husky, plays with a rainbow flag as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 64/70 Parade goers during Pride In London on July 7, 2018 Getty Images for Pride In London 65/70 Parade goers on and around the statue of Eros, Piccadilly Circus, 2018 Getty Images for Pride In London 66/70 A proposal of marriage is accepted during the parade, 2018 Getty Images for Pride In London 67/70 Pride in London, 2018 AFP/Getty Images 68/70 Parade goers at the start during Pride In London at Portland Place, 2018 REUTERS 69/70 Many countries represented at Pride in London, 2018 Niklas Halle'n/AFP/Getty Images 70/70 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan opens the Pride In London parade, 2018 Getty Images for Pride In London 1/70 Click through our gallery to see pictures of Pride over the years... Rob Stothard/Getty Images 2/70 A picnic in Victoria Gardens by the Houses of Parliament during what was then called 'Gay Pride Week', August 5, 1976 Peter Cade/Central Press/Getty Images 3/70 Members of the Gay Liberation Movement protesting outside the Old Bailey over Mary Whitehouse's court action against the Gay News Magazine on July 4, 1977 Malcolm Clark/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 4/70 The march goes on at Pride in 1984 Rex 5/70 Revellers in fancy dress at Lesbian & Gay Pride, London 1984 Rex 6/70 Lesbian & Gay Pride, London 1985 7/70 The sun shines down on Pride in 1992 Rex 8/70 Men in corsets perform a dance at Pride in 1993 9/70 A lesbian couple on Horseguards Parade at Pride in July 1994 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 10/70 A man applies lipgloss during Pride in June 1995 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 11/70 Men in camouflage trousers ride a pink tank and carry rainbow flags during Pride in June 1995 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 12/70 A man sashays down the street with pride in 1995 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 13/70 Demonstrators dressed in hot pants and crop tops at Pride in 1995 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 14/70 Two supporters of the Socialist Workers Party amongst the marchers at Pride in July 1996 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 15/70 Two young men share a tender moment on the grass during a Pride in London in 1996 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 16/70 Male dancers standing with their arms raised above their heads, donning black t-shirts with a heart logo, during Pride in 1996 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 17/70 Comedian Rhona Cameron and political activist Peter Tatchell help to hold a banner at Pride in July 1998. The banner called for an end to Section 28 which refers to the teaching and promotion of homosexuality by local authorities Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 18/70 The London Gay Men's Chorus perform at the Pride Mardi Gras parade in London, in July 1999 Steve Eason/Getty Images 19/70 Members of Outrage! carry pictures of Tony Blair with the title 'Broken Promises' at the parade in 1999 Steve Eason/Getty Images 20/70 Women share the love at Pride in 1999 Steve Eason/Getty Images 21/70 Two men wearing silver underpants and spiky collars take part in the London Pride march in 2000 Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 22/70 Men share a kiss in front of spectators at Picadilly Circus in July 2002 AFP/Getty Images 23/70 A man wearing leather hot pants and harness makes his way through the streets of London to a party to celebrate the Mardi Gras in 2002 Scott Barbour/Getty Images 24/70 Policemen in uniform march along the Embankment at Pride in 2003 Bruno Vincent/Getty Images 25/70 Marchers, alongside more than 40 floats, bands and drummers are seen during the rally for Pride in 2005 Jeremy O'Donnell/Getty Images 26/70 London Mayor Ken Livingstone walks with the EuroPride parade as it makes its way down Oxford Street in July 2006 Scott Barbour/Getty Images 27/70 A man poses in a white feathered neckdress during the Pride march held in central London in June 2007 Mark Wieland/Getty Images 28/70 A Drag Queen poses during the Gay Pride in London, on June 30, 2007 Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images 29/70 The Gay Pride parade passes down Lower Regent Street on July 5, 2008 Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images 30/70 Two men in drag costumes with bouffant blonde hair pose at Pride in 2008 Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images 31/70 Police pose for a photograph before marching on the Pride parade in 2008 in London Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images 32/70 A man wears a home made costume at Pride in july 2008 Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images 33/70 Actor Sir Ian McKellen (left) waves at the parade in 2008 34/70 Boris Johnson, then Mayor of London, wears a pink stetson hat at Pride in 2008 35/70 A man decorated with neon face paint blows his whistle at Pride in July 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 36/70 Marchers in 2009, when the theme of Pride was 'Come Out and Play' Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 37/70 A reveller stands proud in a Union Jack-themed outfit in 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 38/70 More Union Jack-festooned outfits on show at Pride in 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 39/70 A man in butterfly wings at Pride in 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 40/70 A canine gets in on the action at Pride in 2009 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 41/70 Revellers in hot pink dresses and blonde beehives at Pride in 2011 Warren Allott/AFP/Getty Images 42/70 Members of the British Armed Forces march alongside members of the parade through London's streets to celebrate the World Pride Festival on July 7, 2012 Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images 43/70 A man dressed as 'Mister Universe' marches in July 2012 Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images 44/70 Members of the LGBT community parade through London in 2012 Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images 45/70 People carry 'Proud to be Trans' signs as they march in July 2012 Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images 46/70 The Pride parade weaves its way down Regent Street on June 29, 2013 Will Oliver/AFP/Getty Images 47/70 A fabulous carnival costume on display in 2013 Will Oliver/AFP/Getty Images 48/70 A man dressed as a Dalmatian at Pride in 2014 Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 49/70 The rainbow gay pride flag flies on Whitehall in front of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square in March 2014 Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images 50/70 Leather-clad marchers at the Pride Parade in London on June 27, 2015 AFP/Getty Images 51/70 Girls carrying rainbow flags at Pride in June 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 52/70 Arm in arm, people celebrate the annual parade in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 53/70 People gather in Soho outside the Admiral Duncan following Pride in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 54/70 The London Gay Men's Chorus take part in Pride in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 55/70 A dog dressed in a rainbow coat as people gather to watch the parade in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 56/70 A giant rainbow flag is carried along with the parade at Pride in 2015 Rob Stothard/Getty Images 57/70 Steven Choo, aka 'Eva' walks in front of a marching band as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 58/70 Pride marchers wave American and rainbow flags from the top of a double decker bus with Parliament behind as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 59/70 Pride marchers wave American flags and dress as Hilary Clinton as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 60/70 'Queen Alexandra' aka Stephen Stephenson-Spencer, makes his way to the march as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 61/70 London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, and his wife Saadiya Khan lead the Pride march as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 62/70 Mitzi Macintosh gets ready to march as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 63/70 Shiro, a Siberian Husky, plays with a rainbow flag as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in 2016 Getty Images 64/70 Parade goers during Pride In London on July 7, 2018 Getty Images for Pride In London 65/70 Parade goers on and around the statue of Eros, Piccadilly Circus, 2018 Getty Images for Pride In London 66/70 A proposal of marriage is accepted during the parade, 2018 Getty Images for Pride In London 67/70 Pride in London, 2018 AFP/Getty Images 68/70 Parade goers at the start during Pride In London at Portland Place, 2018 REUTERS 69/70 Many countries represented at Pride in London, 2018 Niklas Halle'n/AFP/Getty Images 70/70 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan opens the Pride In London parade, 2018 Getty Images for Pride In London

Raids on gay bars were common in the 60s, but the management would usually get tip-offs beforehand. This particular night, Judy Garland had just been laid to rest and the place was packed with more people than usual, all paying tribute, or mourning.

“It was the perfect storm,” said Nozzi. “A hot summer night. A bar that normally holds 20 to 30 people, now all of a sudden with 300. The cops stupidly deciding, ‘that’s the bar we’re going to raid’ and Judy [Garland] dying the week before. Our attitude was: ‘No you’re not going to do that to us. Not tonight.’”

This raid didn’t go according to plan. Tired of being lined up, frisked and arrested, patrons refused to show identification and resisted being taken away. A delay in the arrival of police wagons to transport the arrested meant that those who had been released began to congregate with passerby outside in the street. The crowd grew as more LGBTQ+ people joined.

Violence broke out when one woman was beaten after complaining about her tight handcuffs. Activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two trans women of colour well-known for campaigning for LGBTQ+ rights, were among the first to throw bottles at the police.

Unable to get the crowd under control, police barricaded themselves in the bar and called in the Tactical Police Force unit, who attempted to stop the rioters. Things continued the following evening, with more joining the fray.

“It was a mess,” said Nozzi, “You could see people holding their bleeding heads. There was blood all over the sidewalk, all over the walls. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”

A year later, marchers gathered in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago to honour the Stonewall riots, creating the first ever Gay Pride marches. The next year, many more cities – including London – followed suit.

Alison Camps, co-chair of Pride in London, which organises the annual parade and festival, says that this year is a chance to take stock of where things have come over the past half-century: “We’re seeing that Pride matters more than ever."

Laura Russell, director of campaigns, policy and research at UK LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, agrees: “Already this month we’ve seen a UK politician suggest that science should find an ‘answer’ to LGBT identities, as well as a horrific homophobic, misogynist attack on a lesbian couple in London.

“Now, more than ever, we need everyone who cares about equality to show their support and work together to build a world where all LGBT people are accepted without exception. It’s important to acknowledge that many of the people who led that uprising were part of groups who continue to exist at the margins of our community and in society, and for whom Pride isn’t yet a celebration but an act of defiance.”

That night in 1969 changed everything for LGBTQ+ people, and is too important to be left as a historical footnote, says Gregory: “Queer history and queer lives are too precious to be reshaped or erased.

“We must never forget what happened that night.”

Riot Act is at the Arcola Theatre on June 30, arcolatheatre.com