Black Cat Tavern

The Black Cat Tavern, which opened in October 1966 as one of several gay bars on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake, became a focal point of LGBTQ+ history when it was targeted in an undercover police sting on New Year's Eve 1967. As patrons celebrated the new year, plainclothes police officers initiated a raid, violently pulling apart and arresting individuals engaged in affectionate acts. Subsequent trials resulted in convictions, prompting a historic demonstration outside The Black Cat on February 11, 1967 - the first public LGBTQ+ protest against police harassment in the United States. Despite legal setbacks for those convicted, their attorney argued for equal protection under the 14th Amendment. In 2007, the tavern was recognized as a Historic-Cultural Monument, and, in 2022, it became California Historical Landmark #1063 with a commemorative plaque installed in 2023, acknowledging its pivotal role in LGBTQ+ civil rights history.