Release Year: 2005
Synopsis:
In 2005, the documentary "Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton's Cafeteria" directed by Victor Silverman and Susan Stryker, brought attention to a pivotal yet often overlooked moment in LGBTQ history. The film delves into the events surrounding the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot of 1966, a violent confrontation between transgender people and the police in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco.
Preceding the more famous 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City, the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot is now recognized as one of the first recorded transgender uprisings in the United States. The documentary, featuring interviews with key figures like Amanda St. Jaymes, Felicia Flames, and Aleshia Brevard, serves as a critical retelling of an event that marked a turning point for the transgender community, giving birth to a political consciousness that would shape LGBTQ activism for years to come.
