PRIDE MONTH: Bidens, Elton John attend opening of historic NYC Stonewall visitors center

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- The Bidens arrived in Greenwich Village on Friday to open the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center , the first LGBTQ+ visitor center in the National Park Service, ahead of this weekend's Pride March and festivities.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden joined New York leaders like Gov. Kathy Hochul and celebrity advocates in the afternoon for a "grand opening" of the center at 51 Christopher St., right next door to the Stonewall Inn in the West Village.

President Biden stepped on stage at around 4:50 p.m. and delivered remarks at the Stonewall event ahead of a campaign fundraiser in the city on Friday night.

“To this day, Stonewall remains a symbol of the legacy of leadership in the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans women of color,” Biden said. “I’m proud to unveil a new visitor center for Stonewall National Monument, the first LGBTQ+ visitor center in the National Park Service. It matters. We’re in the battle for the soul of America. But, I look around at the pride, hope and light that all of you bring and I know it’s a battle we’re going to win and continue to make progress.”

Elton John, whose gay advocacy spans decades, also attended the event and hugged President Biden as he finished his speech.

"I can say as a proud English gay man, this is one of the biggest honors of my lifetime," John said.

It was 55 years ago Friday that a 1969 police raid at the Stonewall Inn sparked a days-long community protest that came to be known as the Stonewall Uprising. The first Pride marches were held in 1970 to mark the uprising, which was a turning point in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.

According to organizers, the visitors center will serve as an educational hub, offering programs and spaces that celebrate LGBTQ+ history.

Kurt Kelly, the owner of the Stonewall Inn, told 1010 WINS if Elton John shows up, "I'd probably pass out."

"He's one of my heroes," Kelly said. "I love him."

Stonewall Inn co-owner Stacy Lentz said she expects big crowds this weekend for the 55th anniversary of the uprising.

"Everyone wants to be inside the bar, have the opportunity to be in the physical space where history happened," Lentz told 1010 WINS.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Reps. Ritchie Torres and Dan Goldman have introduced a resolution to designate June 28th as “Stonewall Day.”

The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center will be the first park visitor center honoring LGBTQ+ history, according to Gillibrand, who introduced the resolution Tuesday and attended Friday's event.

New York City wraps up Pride Month this weekend with the annual Pride March at noon on Sunday. 1010 WINS owner Audacy is an official media partner of NYC Pride.