Transgender

Although Susan Stryker’s lecture is entitled “Transgender Rage: The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot of 1966,” I felt that because she focused on the history of segregation and discrimination against the transgender community, leading up to the point of the riot, was compelling. Her lecture was broken up into parts in which she went over questions that she wanted to seek answers to when researching the event. Such questions like, “Was there a population of drag queens in Tenderloin…and how does prostitution play a role in this event?” were valid in determining the cause and effect of Compton’s Cafeteria riot. Stryker also brought up interesting points and issues concerning the way transgender people were treated and their response to oppression. The main idea that I concluded from attending Susan Stryker’s lect

According to Stryker, the "transsexual phenomenon" was the idea that transsexuals are sick and that they need help. Perhaps the most significant detail about the riot in 1966 was how transgender issues were dealt in the community. These areas were slated for demolition because they had "no value. Choosing to be different caused problems for transsexual, such as finding a way of living. It seems as though that minority groups are separated from society if they do not fit the all American description. The police were depicted as being malicious and crooked. ure is that corruption among the police, poverty and poor living situations, and the "transsexual phenomenon" all contributed to retaliation of the transgender population. Others who tried to "fight for their right" were a group of social activists who called themselves Vanguard, who held regular meetings at Compton"tms Cafeteria. Additionally, both events are significant in history in that they push for the emergence of gay pride. This caused tension and animosity between both groups. Both events occurred as a result of society"tms oppression of the transsexual community, who only wanted acceptance. Even though the Compton"tms Cafeteria riot occurred before Stonewall, much of what happened influenced and repeated itself a few years later at Stonewall. " As a result, people were evicted which further lead to conflict. Police corruption, I believe, is inherent.