Stacy Marie Lentz (born April 17, 1970) is an American lesbian LGBT rights activist, and a co-owner of the Stonewall Inn, and co-founder of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative.[1] Stonewall Inn is the birthplace of the modern gay rights movements after the 1969 Stonewall riots and forms part of the Stonewall National Monument.

In 1994, Lentz moved from her home state of Kansas to New York, became a recruiter, and later joined a team of investors that saved and reopened the Stonewall Inn, a U.S National Historic Landmark. In New York, Lentz built a career in staffing and recruiting. Lentz has held various leadership positions within the recruiting industry and is currently the CEO of r2 sourcing, her own consulting and recruiting firm.[2] Lentz also served as Vice President for Ajilon Finance, Managing partner of the Lucas Group and a Managing Director at Taylor Grey.

In 2017, Stacy Lentz, Kurt Kelly, Bill Morgan, Tony DeCicco and Bob Kelly launched The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, which is "a nonprofit charitable organization inspired by the struggles and ideals of the LGBTQ rights movement born out of the Stonewall Inn Uprising of 1969."[3] The organization provides financial, educational, and strategic help to grassroots organizations that support members of the LGBTQ community. In addition to being a co-founder, Lentz currently serves as President and CEO of the organization.

In 2019 Lentz spearheaded the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots with the Launch of The Stonewall Gives Back Safe Spaces certification program.[4] The program was kicked off by a Pride performance by Taylor Swift at the Stonewall Inn.[5]

Stonewall and activism

The Stonewall Inn "is widely considered to be the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for gay and lesbian rights in the United States",[6] having been the site of the riots that set off the modern gay rights movement. Lentz stepped in and became a co-partner/investor in 2006 after the Inn had fallen into disrepair, a no-man's-land of crime and drugs that risked closing for good[7]

Lentz and her business partners helped save Stonewall, which many consider to be the most significant gay rights landmark. She also became its first and only lesbian investor, as well as the only gay partner in Stonewall's history. Lentz began using her position for activism by organizing or hosting hundreds of events for GLAAD, Marriage Equality USA, the Hetrick-Martin Institute, HRC, the New York City Anti Violence Project (AVP), Sylvia's Place, Lambda Legal, and others. In addition, Lentz also helped organize the March for Marriage rally, uniting more than 80 LGBT organizations and thousands of people to call for the repeal of DOMA in 2013.[8]

A few of the highlights in Lentz's activism career include:

  • Planning Stonewall Inn's 40th anniversary celebration, marking 40 years since the riots with celebrity guests raising thousands of dollars to benefit the Hetrick Martin Institute home of the Harvey Milk High School in New York City.[9]
  • Receiving honors from AVP and HBO and receiving the Community Heroes Award after helping organize a vigil and rally after a gay bashing that received national media attention occurred at the Stonewall inn.[10]
  • Being awarded the Stonewall Community Foundation's Hero Award in 2010 for her activism and work in the LGBT community[11]
  • Being listed as one of GO Magazine's "100 Women We Love"[12]
  • Launching the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative in 2017[13] to help some of the most marginalized members of the LGBTQ community, especially those who live in areas where they still face daily discrimination.

Lentz also worked closely with GLAAD to ensure that Guinness, one of the major sponsors of New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade, would be boycotted if they didn't pull their sponsorship from the parade which at that point would not allow LGBT people to march. With the help of the LGBT community Lentz managed to get Guinness to drop their sponsorship and the following year LGBT groups were allowed in the parade.[14][15][16]

Due to her activism and involvement at Stonewall and within the gay community at large, multiple outlets have quoted Lentz on her reaction to major LGBT events including DOMA,[17] the overturning of DADT,[18] Obama making history by mentioning Stonewall in his inaugural speech,[19][20] and President Obama declaring Stonewall National monument in 2016.[21]

As of 2023 Lentz lives in New York City and currently serves as the CEO of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative [22] and Co-owner of The Stonewall Inn along with business partners Kurt Kelly, Bill Morgan and Tony DeCicco.

References

  1. ↑ "Directors". The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  2. ↑ r2source.com
  3. ↑ "Welcome". The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "SIGBI Safe Spaces certification" https://stonewallinitiative.org/safe-spaces-designation
  5. ↑ , by Jem Aswad, in Variety Magazine; published June 14, 2019; retrieved September 20, 2023
  6. ↑ "The Stonewall Inn, National Historic Landmark National Register Number: 99000562.." National Park Service U.S Department of the Interior. Andrew Dolkart interview with Department of the Interior GLOBE 06 May. 2015 http://www.nps.gov/diversity/stonewall.htm
  7. ↑ Workin’ It, by Laurel A. Fantauzzo, Melissa Levin, Kat Long, and Dulci Pitagora, in GO Magazine; published September 5, 2008; retrieved May 8, 2015
  8. ↑ 100 Women We Love, by Kat Long, Jacqueline Frances and Andrew Collins, in GO Magazine; published June 14, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  9. ↑ Brunch with Stacy Lentz, by Karman Kregloe, in AfterEllen.com; published June 14, 2009; retrieved May 8, 2015
  10. ↑ Gay rights activists rally outside Stonewall Inn two days after Benjamin Carver attack, by Kerry Willis, in Daily News; published October 6, 2010; retrieved May 8, 2015
  11. ↑ Liberation in Truth Social Justice Center Director Receives Honor, by CenterLink; published November 2010; retrieved May 8, 2015
  12. ↑ 100 Women We Love, by Kat Long, Jacqueline Frances and Andrew Collins, in GO Magazine; published June 14, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  13. ↑ "Stonewall Inn Launches STONEWALL GIVES BACK INITIATIVE Featuring Chelsea Clinton and Ty Herndon". Broadway World. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  14. ↑ This Was the Gayest St. Patrick's Day Ever, Relatively Speaking, by Anna Merlan, in the Village Voice; published March 18, 2014; retrieved April 29, 2015
  15. ↑ VIDEO: Stonewall Inn restocks Guinness after it pulls out of the NYC St.Pat’s Parade, by Ross Murray, in GLAAD.org; published March 17, 2014; retrieved May 8, 2015
  16. ↑ Beer companies drop St. Patrick’s Day parade sponsorships in favor of gay rights, by Laura Nichols, in PRWeek; published March 17, 2014; retrieved May 8, 2015
  17. ↑ Tears and Toasts at Stonewall: Riot-Site Revelers React to SCOTUS Decision, by Kelly Gifford and Rebecca Hiscott, in Observer; published June 26, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  18. ↑ The Supreme Court Rules that The Defense of Marriage Act Is Unconstitutional And Legalizes Gay Marriage In California, by Morgan Clendaniel, in Fast Company; published June 26, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  19. ↑ Ushering In His Second Term, Obama Stands Up For Gay Civil Rights, by @LaurieInQueens, in The National Memo; published January 23, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  20. ↑ The pub mentioned in Obama’s inauguration speech, by Sarah McVeigh, in ABC Online; published January, 2013; retrieved May 8, 2015
  21. ↑ Hetter, Katia; Liptak, Kevin (24 June 2016). "Obama names first national monument to LGBT rights". CNN. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  22. ↑ https://stonewallinitiative.org/stacy-lentz
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