Compton’s Cafeteria Riot 50th Commemoration Celebration Series:
Still from "Screaming Queens" by Susan Stryker
Three years before the more famous 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York, San Francisco’s Tenderloin district erupted with one of the first-known moments of collective queer confrontation of police harassment. On a hot August night in 1966, drag queens, trans sex workers, hair fairies and street hustlers rose up against police harassment in what has become known at the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot.
July through September of 2016, the GLBT History Museum and the Tenderloin Museum are teaming up to host a series of programming to commemorate the 50th anniversary of those riots.
Tenderloin Queer History Walking Tour and Kickoff Reception: July 28, 6-8:30 PM | Tenderloin Museum
At 6 PM, starting at Museum, neighborhood historians will give an hour-long walking tour of the LGBT history of the Tenderloin, centering on the Compton’s Cafeteria Riots and their now-famous intersection of Turk and Taylor Streets, before returning to the Tenderloin Museum at 7 PM for a kickoff reception. At the reception, trans historian and award-winning documentarian Susan Stryker and original “screaming queen” Felicia Elizondo will say a few words to mark the occasion.
Walking Tour: $5
Kickoff Reception: Free
Tour Guide: Cruzin d'Loo
Cruzin d'Loo is the alter ego of actor and performer Kevin Wisney. Kevin and Cruzin have been performing together for over five years. They can be seen performing all over the northern California region. Cruzin and Kevin love to use their performing background to further the causes he believes in equality/social justice and local San Francisco history. Kevin has been on the stage for nearly four decades and hopes to keep going for another four. Cruzin presently is the host of a successful show every Friday 8pm at Balancoire.
Compton’s Cafeteria Riot 50th Commemoration Celebration Other Events:
Felicia Elizondo presentation: Cruising the Transgender Tenderloin of the ‘60s
August 4, 7-9 PM | GLBT History Museum
Compton’s 50th Art Launch and Artists Talk with Nicki Green and Chris Vargas
August 16, 7-9 PM| GLBT History Museum
10th Anniversary Screening of Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria with directors Susan Stryker and Victor Silverman
August 18, 7-9 PM | Roxie Theater
Sex Work in the Tenderloin Then and Now
September 1, 7-9 PM | GLBT History Museum
Vanguard Revisted Revisted with Rev. Megan Rohrer
September 8, 6:30-8 PM | Tenderloin Museum
This event is sponsored in part by a grant from Grants for the Arts/General Fund Portion of the San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund.
The Compton’s 50th Commemoration Series is made possible with support from the GLBT Historical Society, the Tenderloin Museum, the Roxie Theater, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Easter Grant