Screaming Queens, Bus Station Beats and Free Grub @ Compton’s Cafeteria Anniversary this Sunday!

If you want get heard, sometimes you gotta scream, and ain’t no one can scream like a queen who’s got something to say.

This Sunday, everyone’s favourite temple of the Tenderloin, Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, will be holding a party commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riots in 1966.

Stonewall, rightly gets a lot of notoriety as a turning point in queer politics and culture, but it was not the first time the community railed against the fuzz.

Like the Cooper’s Donuts (1959) and Black Cat Riots (also 1966) in L.A., Compton’s happened as a result of the trans and queer community getting hassled by the cops one time too many and fighting back with a barrage of coffee cups, spiked heels and broken glass. Ostracized by much of the queer male community in addition to everyone else, the cafeteria was one of the few places they could hang out and when they were shown the door once again, shit went down.

The fallout was that the SFPD decided that instead of bashing people over the head, it might be a good idea to actually try and begin recognizing the trans community and it marked the start of services and community organization for transgender and queer youth.

Since, dear Auntie Charlie’s lies directly across the street from the site of Gene Compton’s steam table palace, riot veteran Felicia Flames Elizondo and DJ Bus Station John thought it would be the perfect spot to remember those who werked for us to get where we are today.

Festivities will be starting around 5pm and going ‘til 8. Bus Station John will be spinning the tunes and the notoriously volatile cocktails will be poured. And just so you don’t end up slithering down Turk Street, they will also be providing FREE plates of crunchy fried chickies, so get there early!

Compton’s Cafeteria Riots 45th Anniversary Celebration

Sunday, November 20, 2011

5pm- 8pm

Aunt Charlie’s Lounge

133 Turk Street (@Taylor)

[Tenderloin]

SF

FREE