Just after midnight on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1967, patrons were embracing and kissing as undercover police raided The Black Cat Tavern, a popular gay bar and restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. Police arrested 14 men, and many were beaten and dragged outside. Six were accused and charged with lewd conduct for same-sex kissing.
The next month, on February 11, around 500 LGBTQ+ community members and allies gathered outside the bar in a peaceful protest. It was one of the earliest national public gay rights demonstrations, predating the Stonewall riots in New York, and one of Southern California’s earliest recognized public protests for gay rights, historians said.
More than 55 years later, many still remember what happened. The famed tavern, now called The Black Cat, has since been named the first California historical landmark that honors LGBTQ+ history.
The state tribute was sealed with a plaque, which was unveiled at a ceremony near the bar on Sunday, Oct. 1. Around 50 people attended the unveiling, including L.A. City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, as well as Assemblymembers Wendy Carrillo and Lauren Freedman.
“It’s an honor that we still remember what has happened because if we don’t remember, it can revert back to the way it was,” said 87-year-old Alexei Romanoff, one of the few living Black Cat demonstrators, at the event. He owned another Silver Lake gay bar that was raided on the same night, and was proud to show his support to the Black Cat by helping organize the peaceful protest.
“We didn’t do anything by ourselves. It was always an effort of our communities and those who support us. It’s not only us, but those who support us.”
Sunday’s plaque unveiling kicked off the start of LGBT History Month, which celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender icons for each day in October. It also comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several bills that bolster the state’s protections for…
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