Beyond Stonewall: 9 Lesser-Known LGBT Uprisings

As the anniversary of Stonewall is upon us, we take a look at other uprisings, riots, and protests that forever changed LGBT history.

Thanks to the Stonewall uprising, New York's Greenwich Village has long been viewed as the flashpoint of the LGBT rights movement. While Stonewall — which occurred in the early hours of June 28, 1969 — will inorexably be tied to our annual Pride celebrations and the struggle for equality, it wasn't the first nor the last time we stood up to defend ourselves. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. (and New York, of course) all played important roles in the emerging gay and trans rights movements, even if at that time it meant simply being allowed a cup of coffee.



1959

A group of drag queens and hustlers took action against the Los Angeles Police Department for arresting their friends for simply congregating in Cooper’s Donuts, a popular downtown LGBT meeting place. When police tried to haul away three gay patrons of Cooper’s, an angry mob pelted the officers with doughnuts, coffee, and paper plates until the cops were forced to retreat and return with backup. When the officers returned, a riot ensued, shutting down busy Main Street for an entire day. Read more here.

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