News Release

The San Francisco Public Library will celebrate the lives, culture and history of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals during Gay Pride Month in June with author readings, a tribute to late writers, a film screening, and an exhibit commemorating a turning point in queer history.

Highlighting Gay Pride Month events is the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot of 1966: 40th Anniversary Commemorative Exhibit, which tells how San Francisco’s transgender community rioted against police harassment at a late-night restaurant in the Tenderloin in 1966. Three years before the more famous fight at New York’s Stonewall Inn sparked the gay liberation movement, the little-known Compton’s Cafeteria Riot helped launch a movement for transgender rights that is now entering its fifth decade. The exhibit will be on display May 20–July 20 in the James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center at the Main Library.

Curated by historian and filmmaker Susan Stryker, the exhibit of images and artifacts, tells the almost-forgotten story of the struggle for acceptance fought by the transgender community, and highlights the forces of change that led to the riot in the context of urban renewal, anti-war activism, the civil rights movement, counterculture and personal opportunities based on new medical services.

Stryker and Victor Silverman will also host a special screening of their documentary “Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria,” followed by a panel discussion featuring historians and activists. The film will show at 2 p.m. on June 17 in the Koret Auditorium at the Main Library.

Other events include:

• June 7
  Confessions of the Other Mother: Nonbiological Lesbian Moms Tell All - Four lesbian “dads” will talk about their experiences as The Other Mother. Join Harlyn Aizley, Hillary Goodridge, Cynthia Benton and Polly Pagenhart, contributors to “Confessions of the Other Mother: Nonbiological Lesbian Moms Tell All.”
  Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library,
  3555 16th St.
  6:30–8:30 p.m.
  
• June 11
  Leslie Feinberg reads from Drag King Dreams,her long-awaited follow up novel to the award-winning Stone Butch Blues. Books for sale by Cody's Books. Co-sponsored by FTM International and GLBT Historical Society.
  Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St. (at Grove)
  1–3 p.m.
  
• June 13
  Radar Reading - This month's Radar reading is in conjunction with the National Queer Arts Festival. This special event features Dorothy Allison, Kate Bornstein, Imani Henry and Nalo Hopkinson. Hosted by Michelle Tea.
  Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St. (at Grove)
  6–8 p.m.
  
• June 14
  “Pages from the Past” - First in a special series of readings of work by deceased queer writers, including Willa Cather, James Baldwin, Truman Capote, William Burroughs and Andrea Dworkin, by local queer performers. Hosted by Michelle Tea, co-sponsored by National Queer Arts Festival.
  Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St. (at Grove)
  6–7 p.m.
  
• June 21
  “Pages from the Past” - Second in a special series of readings of work by deceased queer writers, including Willa Cather, James Baldwin, Truman Capote, William Burroughs and Andrea Dworkin, by local queer performers. Hosted by Michelle Tea, co-sponsored by National Queer Arts Festival.
  Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St. (at Grove)
  6–7 p.m.
  
• June 28
  “Pages from the Past” - Third in a special series of readings of work by deceased queer writers, including Willa Cather, James Baldwin, Truman Capote, William Burroughs and Andrea Dworkin, by local queer performers. Hosted by Michelle Tea, co-sponsored by National Queer Arts Festival.
  Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St. (at Grove)
  6–7 p.m.
  

All programs and events are free and open to the public.
For more information, please call (415) 557-4277.