An interesting side point to the 'Stonewall Riots': the gays were gathered at the time to mourn the recent death of Judy Garland who was a gay icon (of which she was quite aware). One could say her death was the impetus of the movement.
Yep. It was also one of the only gay bars in NYC at the time that was not owned by the Mafia. The mob essentially provided "protection" from the authorities at a time when gay establishments were "illegal." The NYPD was therefore "selective" about who got shut down.