The Stonewall Riots took place in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York in June 1969. Many consider these protests to be the stimulus that launched the fight for LGBTQ (lesbians, gays , bisexual, transgender and questioned sexuality), not only in the United States but also in much of the world. Increased acceptance of gay people began just weeks after the event, raising awareness and opening more businesses to LGBT people. What caused the Stonewall Riots? The causes of the Stonewall riots were anti-gay laws, NYPD corruption, and lack of media attention. Before the Stonewall riots, many laws limited LGBT rights, with horrific consequences for those who violated them. The most infamous of these was a law in effect in every state except Illinois that made same-sex sex punishable by prison time or a fine. This prison sentence can, in some cases, be a life sentence, depending on the state and severity of the crime. Additionally, same-sex relations could result in castration in seven states. New York City had the strictest sodomy laws in the country. Additionally, New York was home to the largest number of homosexuals. This led to a high rate of arrests. In 1966, approximately 100 or more men were jailed due to the NYPD's anti-gay efforts. New York City's anti-sodomy laws included a ban on homosexual behavior in civic and independent establishments. Often, bars were the only businesses to accept openly gay customers. This was especially the case in the 1950s and 1960s, the period during which the Stonewall riots took place. Although bars are the safest places for LGBT members, they usually mean bad news for these bars. In 1969, it was illegal in New York... middle of the paper... not covered by the media, and the Stonewall riots were the first large-scale movement for LGBT rights. Despite this, it still took time for the movement to receive the attention it needed. An example is the New York Times newspaper, which did not allow its journalists to use the word "gay" until after 1987, almost twenty years after the riots, and only covered the riots in an article consisting of three short paragraphs. The Stonewall riots were a catalyst for the gay rights movement, not only in the United States, but around the world. The first gay pride marches took place in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York on June 28, 1970, the first anniversary of the riots. Additionally, three LGBT newspapers were printed shortly after the protests. In conclusion, the causes of the Stonewall riots were anti-gay laws, NYPD corruption, and lack of media attention..