This landmark decision comes on the 55th anniversary of the Compton’s Cafeteria riot.
Mayor London Breed officiated a major milestone yesterday when she declared August to be Transgender History Month, making San Francisco the first US city to do so. It’s a fitting accomplishment in a city where so many essential moments in LGBTQ+ history have taken place. The City collaborated with the Transgender District and the Office of Transgender Initiatives in order to make this proclamation a reality.
Mayor Breed was accompanied by several prominent community leaders and trans activists, including Honey Mahogany, Tamara Ching, Camille Moran, Cecilia Chung and more. She announced several new city initiatives, including a guaranteed income project for the trans community; an LGBTQ senior tele-mental health program; support for small businesses; and new investments in Black transgender equity programming. The historic signing concluded with the raising of the transgender pride flag over City Hall.
This August marks the 55th anniversary of the Compton’s Cafeteria riots, in which a large group of transgender women and drag queens resisted arrest in the Tenderloin. They fought back with handbags and high heels to protest violent abuse and harassment they suffered at the hands of the police. This 1966 event was one of the first LGBTQ+ riots in the United States, preceding the more famous Stonewall riots of 1969.
San Francisco is also notable for the Transgender District, which occupies 2 blocks of Sixth Street and 6 blocks in the southeastern Tenderloin. It’s the first legally recognized transgender district in the US, with portions of the streets named to honor the contributions of transgender people. This Sunday, August 29, the District will host The Riot Party to remember this essential day in trans history!
“Transgender History Month is so iconic! I don’t think the broader public realizes how many significant contributions to history, culture, social justice, and of course, popular culture that transgender and gender non-conforming people have made,” said Aria Sa’id, co-founder and President of The Transgender District. “On behalf of The Transgender District we are overjoyed to celebrate this incredible milestone.”
“It was an honor to join the transgender community today at City Hall to declare August as Transgender History Month in San Francisco,” said Mayor Breed. “San Francisco is, has been, and always will be a place where everyone can seek refuge, sanctuary, and safety.”