As the author of the text engraved in the sidewalk placque depicted here, I am grateful for your post emphasizing the importance of our collective histories. Thank you to Susan Stryker for following her instincts in recognizing the importance of an action that San Francisco's mainstream media and institutions tried to bury. Thank you to S. Baum for amplifying the message. And thank you to every trans and queer person who has lived and worked to make and preserve our history. We WON'T be erased!!
From what I understand, there were *many* queer uprisings before Stonewall, Compton being one of them. What made Stonewall _Stonewall_, however, was that it happened near the offices of the now-defunct Village Voice newspaper so it got some press coverage. That's why Stonewall is seen as the flashpoint and other LGBT uprisings are not: because the press wasn't there.
"When we ground ourselves in our trans pasts, trans futures become more possible to imagine."
As a historian, this is exactly it. It's frustrating, there are so many examples in the academic literature of so-called "effeminate men" and "masculine women" that it's honestly mind-boggling how they can't make the simple leap to the obvious. But for me, coming to recognize myself in history, in historical social constructions of transness - that we've always had a place in society, that we weren't always reviled like this - helps me remember that the things they say about us are a product of our time. They aren't universal by a long shot.
I'm queer, 83, happily bound to my lover of 45 years, but urgently concerned for my trans friends' health and safety in the face of these fascist oppressors. We have faced death in every age and survived. We fight back now and we win! Keep hope alive, embrace the struggle, fight fight fight!
As the author of the text engraved in the sidewalk placque depicted here, I am grateful for your post emphasizing the importance of our collective histories. Thank you to Susan Stryker for following her instincts in recognizing the importance of an action that San Francisco's mainstream media and institutions tried to bury. Thank you to S. Baum for amplifying the message. And thank you to every trans and queer person who has lived and worked to make and preserve our history. We WON'T be erased!!
Not forgotten here in the San Francisco Bay Area! Thanks for raising this up.
I’m so glad Newsom cannot run again it’s time for a New Democrat one who will respect everyone and stand up against trump and his cronies
From what I understand, there were *many* queer uprisings before Stonewall, Compton being one of them. What made Stonewall _Stonewall_, however, was that it happened near the offices of the now-defunct Village Voice newspaper so it got some press coverage. That's why Stonewall is seen as the flashpoint and other LGBT uprisings are not: because the press wasn't there.
There’s a documentary about this - free on Kanopy:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/screaming-queens-the-riot-at-comptons-cafeteria
https://www.kanopy.com/video/132475
Thank yo ufor your important piece on this uprising. History is more relevant now than ever before-
This was the true beginning of the LGBTQ movement, and we were the shock troops for this movement. This is truly why you can't have LGB without the T.
As the mom of an adult transgender child I very much appreciate reading this bit of history and the comments.
We’ve got to keep up the activism. Love to all of you and big MOM HUGS.
"When we ground ourselves in our trans pasts, trans futures become more possible to imagine."
As a historian, this is exactly it. It's frustrating, there are so many examples in the academic literature of so-called "effeminate men" and "masculine women" that it's honestly mind-boggling how they can't make the simple leap to the obvious. But for me, coming to recognize myself in history, in historical social constructions of transness - that we've always had a place in society, that we weren't always reviled like this - helps me remember that the things they say about us are a product of our time. They aren't universal by a long shot.
Awesome piece of history we all must remember.
I'm queer, 83, happily bound to my lover of 45 years, but urgently concerned for my trans friends' health and safety in the face of these fascist oppressors. We have faced death in every age and survived. We fight back now and we win! Keep hope alive, embrace the struggle, fight fight fight!
Thank you for this piece. We have not forgotten Compton's here in the Bay Area! Folks can follow the Compton's Coalition on Instagram at @comptonsxcoalition --> https://www.instagram.com/comptonsxcoalition?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MTZqOGZhMjBpaGJ1MQ==