in los angelesder.he first commemorations of the stonewall rebellion required a lot of courage on the part of organizers and participants. many of us believe that is really one the stoma riots acquired the significance -- the stonewall riots acquired the significance they have today. there's been other protestant demonstrations before stonewall. -- other protests and demonstrations forced on will. cisco university. back at the role they played for the lgbt community. [video clip] >> gays and lesbians who came of age during the 1940's, 1960's, -- 1950's, 19 60's, speak over and over about how they risk their livelihoods by going to gay bars because the gay bars save their lives. they kept them from despairing they were the only ones. they kept them from believing that society was right, that they were sick and criminal and would be better off dead. in the bars and nightclubs, they found hookups and one night stands. they also found partners and lovers and friends and people who accepted them as they were