By Thomson Reuters Foundation
When Tree Sequoia joined hundreds of LGBT+ people rioting in downtown New York 50 years ago, same-sex relations were illegal in more than 100 countries and every U.S. state had anti-sodomy laws.
"(The police) came in nasty," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation outside the Stonewall Inn where the modern LGBT+ rights movements began on June 28, 1969, after a police raid. "They pushed the wrong person and that person pushed them back and before you know it, they were beating up the cop and that started the whole rebellion."
Fast forward half a century and gay sex remains illegal in 69 countries and can be punished with death in seven nations.
Stonewall remains a symbol, said LGBT+ rights activist Power.
"I think it's unfortunate that people argue over who threw the first brick because the relevant thing is not who threw the first brick, but who built the movement, who stayed around and who actually did the tough work," she said.
Many campaigners - from non-governmental organisations and the business community - remain optimistic for the future, but recognise there is still much work to be done.