COMPTON CAFETERIA RIOT

 

In August, 1966, drag queens and transgender people rioted in response to the constant harassment by the police. Trans women, in particular were targets. Compton Cafeteria was a local hangout in San Francisco for sex workers, drag queens, and transgender people. 

The Compton Cafeteria Riot happened three years before the Stonewall happened. Sadly there is very little or no footage of the riots. The riot was lost to history until it was rediscovered by historian Susan Stryker. In 2005, along with Victor Silverman, released the documentary Screaming Queens, of which I viewed.   

I recommend the book, Transgender History by Susan Stryker