People outside of Compton’s fought back as police tried arresting them, destroyed a cop car, and set a newsstand on fire. They flipped tables, threw cutlery and sugar shakers, and hit police officers with their purses. In that moment, the other drag queens and trans women present started rioting. When the police raided Compton’s, they harassed and arrested trans women and drag queens for “female impersonation.” One early morning in August of 1966 (the exact date is unknown), when a police officer grabbed a drag queen in Compton’s, she threw a cup of coffee in his face. The employees of Compton’s regularly called the police at night, wanting to clear the place out of LGBTQ+ people. Compton’s was a 24-hour cafeteria in San Francisco that was frequented by trans women, drag queens, and gay hustlers. In August of 1966, three years before the Stonewall Uprising, a groundbreaking riot in the name of trans rights broke out in Gene Compton’s Cafeteria. Because the Stonewall Riots began in June, June has been declared Pride Month and is celebrated around the world. In late-June of 1970, cities around the country held the first Pride Parades to commemorate the impact that the Stonewall Riots had on the nation. These events, soon to be known as the Stonewall Riots, gave a voice to LGBTQ+ people and began a movement that many people consider to be the catalyst for LGBTQ+ liberation. Rioting and protests continued over the next six days. Within minutes, hundreds of people gathered outside of the bar, throwing bricks, bottles, and rocks at the club and police officers, and set the Stonewall Inn on fire. When an officer used his baton to hit Stormé DeLarverie in the head, the rioting began. While all of this was happening, the patrons who were kicked out of the bar gathered outside of the bar to protest the arrests of people in the LGBTQ+ community. Those arrested included employees of the club as well as people who were cross-dressing. In the early morning of June 28, 1969, the police raided the Stonewall Inn and arrested 13 people. The Stonewall Inn, a gay club in New York City, was known to welcome all LGBTQ+ people, including drag queens and runaway and homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Here are some prominent events that started the movement towards LGBTQ+ equality: This started the biggest LGBTQ+ movement in history.
In the late-1960s, LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender activists of color, fought back against the discrimination they were facing. However, the police frequently raided these establishments and arrested anyone engaging in those illegal behaviors. Because their public behavior was extremely policed, many people in the LGBTQ+ community considered gay bars and clubs to be the “safest” places where they could be themselves.
Additionally, cross-dressing was illegal, meaning that you could be arrested for dressing in clothes for people of the opposite sex. In New York City, it was illegal for people to solicit others of the same sex or engage in gay behavior, including holding hands, kissing, or dancing with someone of the same sex. Coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender often led to people being kicked out of their homes, ostracized by their family and friends, and losing their jobs. It was not easy being LGBTQ+ in the 1960s and preceding decades. Although it might not have made it into your US history textbooks, there is a lot of rich LGBTQ+ history that weaves a narrative that everyone who rides a float or cheers at a parade should know.
Learning about the history of the struggles and milestones of the different parts of the queer community helps us all understand the fight for equality and sheds light on the leadership of the transwomen of color. However, the LGBTQ+ community is as wide and varied as the ever-growing acronym. Every year, there are rainbow-filled parades, festivals, and fundraisers all over the world not only to celebrate the progress that has been made, but also to raise awareness of the change still necessary to achieve true equality. The month of June is recognized around the globe as a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ individuals.