Before Stonewall - San Francisco 1964

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

I'm writing from a friend's house in Toronto where my spouse and I traveled to join in the Pride celebrations.

Someone emailed me the link to this article:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2007/06/24/ING84QJM5K1.DTL

Interesting items to note in this article: 1) The serious level of oppression of LGBT persons such a short time ago in San Francisco (of all places!). 2) The fact that Christian clergy and a church-related organization--the Council on Religion and the Homosexual--were active at this early date defending LGBT equality. 3) The role of drag queens in the early movement.

Perhaps there are other aspects of this story others might find significant. What do you think?

Steven Webster

[Gennee]

I read the article yesterday. San Francisco had much going on back then. I noted the similarities between the events at California Hall, at Compton's Cafeteria two years later, and then Stonewall. Gays, lesbians, and tragenders were needlssly being harassed by police ( no doubt from the word of people in power). The people got tired and decided to fight back.

Struggle is never easy but necessary if things are going to change. I believe that another struggle is coming in the future. I am thankful for the early pioneers of the LGBT movement and keep them in mind when I am learning about my life as a transgender woman.

Gennee

:)

[BenL]

3) The role of drag queens in the early movement.

Think about it. Who are always the lightning rods for persecution? The extreme examples of any stereotype. Who do the media always zoom in on at Pride celebrations? The drag queens, of course. Think back to the Pride thread where the more conventional :rolleyes: :p among us were lamenting the extremes of Pride celebrations. Who figured in those comments? The drag queens and the thong-clad shot-boy types.

It's not at all surprising to me that the drag queens, the most oppressed among the gay community -- who couldn't fade into the night even if they wanted to -- were the ones to fight back in San Fran and NYC. I'm grateful to them for showing us how to stand up for ourselves.

[Daniel]

Drag queens, Clergy and church people in their Sunday best! Who would have thought! And in 1965!

Throws a bright light on current assimilationist thinking. To those who believe that everyone has to look and act a certain way to be part of the church and have equal rights, this article shows that thinking for what it is: historical revisionism.

[Gennee]

Drag queens and crossdressers have a long history of being on the front lines of social change.

Gennee

[pnggrad79]

Drag queens couldn't be anything but flashy, and out there. That is who they are, beautiful and lovely. May we all show our true colors, be loud, be out there, and stand up in the face of inequality and injustice.

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sherrie Z]

San Francisco Bay Times (from 2005) on the "Screaming Queens" documentary (about the 1966 riot at Compton's Cafeteria)

http://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=3783


Update on Elliot Blackstone (the supportive police officer featured in "Screaming Queens")

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/23/BAG7KJILMR17.DTL

[Sherrie Z]

And speaking of "Screaming Queens" (see above) ... the documentary about the Compton's riot in 1966 ... here is a Soulforce connection:

Rev. Dr. Ed Hansen is featured in the film as a supportive street minister ... it appears that Rev. Hansen was among those arrested at the 1999 Soulforce action in Grand Island, Nebraska. He has been the minister of the actively pro-LGBT Hollywood UMC ... it appears from their website that a new senior minister is there now, but Hansen was regularly giving sermons there during 2006. The documentary also highlights the supportive involvement of Rev. Cecil Williams of Glide Memorial Methodist Church in San Francisco.


Rev. Hansen, and also Glide, are mentioned in this report about the documentary:

http://www.kqed.org/arts/truly/episode.jsp?eid=130979


Info on Grand Island:

http://www.soulforce.org/article/475