International LGBT Pride Day, also known as International LGBT+ Pride Day, is observed worldwide every June 28. This day commemorates the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which are considered the catalyst for the LGBT rights movement both in the United States and globally. The riots began in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Manhattan, following a police raid that caught the bar's patrons by surprise. The violent demonstrations that ensued highlighted the tensions between the NYPD and the LGBTQ+ community, leading to organized activism for safe spaces where individuals could openly express their sexual orientation. The first pride marches took place on the anniversary of the riots in 1970, and in 1999, the month of June was officially designated as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month by US President Bill Clinton. The observance has since expanded to include the entire LGBT+ community.