I was present for the famous riot at Gene Compton's in 1966. Compton's was a late-night hang-out for transgenders, hookers, hustlers, young queers, and the regular denizens of the Tenderloin. Compton's was on the corner of Turk and Taylor.
In 1962 SFPD Sergeant Elliot Blackstone was appointed the City's first police liaison to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. I joined Harry Hay's Mattachine Society in the 60's and Sergeant Blackstone was well-known to Mattachine members as well as members of the Daughters of Bilitis, the Sexual Freedom League and even the Hooker's Union. He was the queer community's first friend and supporter among the San Francisco Police Department. Those of us who have been in San Francisco since the beginning of the queer civil rights movement know very well that we owe a substantial debt of gratitude to Sergeant Elliot Blackstone.
Sergeant Blackstone is now 81 and has been retired for years. Last week he put his uniform back on and was honored by Chief Heather Fong and the San Francisco Police Commission for the remarkable way in which he served his City and the queer community. Tomorrow Sergeant Blackstone will ride in the San Francisco Pride Parade as our Grand Marshal.
The Pride Parade is much larger than it was decades ago, but it has also lost a lot. It used to be called the Freedom Parade when I first marched in it. In those days it was a local event for local queers. We marched in defiance of a homophobic world. San Francisco was a lot different then than it is now. Remember, in those days psychologists still classified homosexuality as a mental illness. (The Pentagon still seems to think so, but that's another story.)
Today the parade is very commercial. It has been invaded by corporate public relations departments and advertising agencies that produce slick professional floats and entries. These days, instead of watching pioneers of the queer community march in solidarity, we watch an endless parade of corporate commercials rolling on wheels. It is a very different parade today. In one sense it is more and in another sense it is less.
It was a different world in those early days. It was in that different world that Sergeant Blackstone stood up and took a position in defense and in support of the San Francisco queer community. If you watch the parade tomorrow try to take the opportunity to meet Sergeant Blackstone and shake his hand. He is a true and bonafide hero to the queer community and an outstanding San Francisco Police Officer.
I remember Sergeant Blackstone well. We appreciated him and we trusted him. Many times, Elliot Blackstone was the only friend we had. This year we honor him publicly and in grand style.
Congratulations, Sergeant Blackstone, and thank you for listening to the heart beating beneath your silver star.
Photo of Sergeant Blackstone courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle
and Chronicle photographer Deanne Fitzmaurice
and Chronicle photographer Deanne Fitzmaurice
0 comments:
Post a Comment