The Compton's Cafeteria Riot

The Compton's Cafeteria Riot occurred in 1966 in San Francisco, when transgender and gender non-conforming individuals protested police harassment and discrimination at Compton’s Cafeteria. Tensions escalated after police targeted and mistreated patrons, leading to a spontaneous uprising that included smashing windows and throwing objects. This confrontation is considered one of the earliest known acts of resistance against anti-transgender discrimination in the U.S., predating the more widely known Stonewall Riots by three years. The riot highlighted issues of social injustice faced by transgender people and helped spark broader movements for LGBTQ rights.