Embedded Files
Queer Nation activists at a "Take Back the Night" march in New York City in 1990 Credit: Ellen Neipris
History is the Blueprint
History is the Blueprint
Our movements didn’t begin with hashtags or parade permits. They were built in basements, on ballroom floors, in jail cells, and through riots. History isn’t just something we remember—it’s something we use. For queer and trans communities, especially Black, Brown, Indigenous, and street-connected folks, history is a survival tool. A blueprint.
This module traces the radical roots of queer resistance—from Compton’s Cafeteria to Stonewall, from ACT UP to abolitionist zines. We explore how people made life possible through disruption, organizing, refusal, and joy. These aren’t stories of the past—they are tools for the present. Pride was—and still is—a riot.
Core Content
Core Content
Video Documentary: Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria - Susan Stryker & Victor Silverman
A 56-minute PBS documentary (with closed captions) about the 1966 uprising in San Francisco led by trans women and drag queens. A pivotal moment in queer riot history.
Short Film (Youtube): Happy Birthday, Marsha! - Sasha Wortzel & Reina Gossett
A poetic dramatization that imagines Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera before Stonewall, presented through a poetic and dramatic lens, highlighting trans femme leadership. ~14 minutes. With captions available.
Documentary (YouTube, Full-length): United in Anger: A History of ACT UP – Jim Hubbard
This 90-minute archival documentary explores the personal stories of activists from the early days of the AIDS crisis, covering pivotal moments such as ACT UP's "Seize the FDA" and "Stop the Church" protests.
Explainer Video (YouTube): Cooper Do‑nuts Riot (1959) – GetToPoint7
A 6-minute video about one of the earliest recorded queer uprisings in Los Angeles, led by drag and trans individuals standing up against police harassment.
Manifesto (Zine Archive): Queer Read This!— Queer Nation (1990) - Queer Zine Archive Project
A candid discussion between two queer creatives about joy, community, and surviving anti-LGBTQ+ backlash—feels like sitting in on a warm, kitchen-table conversation.
Article: When Queer Nation "Bashed Back" Against Homophobia with Street Patrols and Glitter - Caitlin Donohue
A photo essay and reflection on trans joy—highlighting how self-expression, community gatherings, and creative resilience continue amid political threats.
Article: 9 Overlooked Moments in LGBTQ+ History - Olivia B. Waxman
A brief, accessible listicle featuring lesser-known resistance moments like the Black Cat Tavern and Casa Susanna.
Extra Credit
Extra Credit
Historical Text (PDF): The Transexual Phenomenon - Harry Benjamin, M.D.
A foundational medical text by endocrinologist Harry Benjamin, first published in 1966. It played a pivotal role in shaping early standards of care for trans people and influenced the development of gender clinics in the U.S. While groundbreaking, it also reflects cisnormative assumptions and “passing” ideologies—making it a valuable resource for critical analysis.
Reflect, Resist, Rejoice: Discussion & Practice
Reflect, Resist, Rejoice: Discussion & Practice
Reflection Questions (great for journaling or small group dialogue)
Reflection Questions (great for journaling or small group dialogue)
What did you learn about queer and trans history that you didn’t know before?
How does that shift how you understand Pride or protest?
Which moment, person, or movement from this module resonated most with you?
Why do you think that is?
How does your own relationship to queerness intersect with histories of resistance?
Are there lineages you feel connected to?
What does “riot” mean to you?
Has that meaning changed after engaging with this content?
How do you hold complexity around grief, rage, and joy when looking back at queer histories?
What emotions come up when you imagine yourself in these moments?
Critical Discussions Prompts (for classrooms, study groups, or peer-led facilitation)
Critical Discussions Prompts (for classrooms, study groups, or peer-led facilitation)
Why do some queer and trans histories get erased or sanitized while others are celebrated?
Who benefits from this selective memory?
What do the uprisings and actions in this module teach us about resistance beyond visibility?
How does direct action differ from representation?
How have trans and street-connected communities been central to queer resistance—yet often sidelined in mainstream LGBTQ+ narratives?
What does re-centering these communities require from us?
How does state violence (e.g., police raids, medical neglect, anti-LGBTQ+ laws) appear across these different historical moments?
What throughlines connect past and present?
Can joy, mutual aid, and art be forms of riot?
How do we expand our definitions of resistance based on the examples in this module?
Creative + Collective Practice Prompts (for workshops, zines, or embodied learning)
Creative + Collective Practice Prompts (for workshops, zines, or embodied learning)
Design a protest sign inspired by one of the movements or moments featured in this module.
Include a phrase or visual that connects historical struggles to current issues in your community.
Create a timeline or map that visually traces queer resistance in your local area.
Incorporate both well-known events and community memories that may not be widely documented.
Write a dialogue or monologue from the perspective of a historical figure featured in this module.
Focus on their motivations, fears, and hopes before or during an act of resistance.
Develop a mini-zine that reclaims a “forgotten” moment in queer history.
Use found images, quotes, and your own reflections to tell the story in a 1–2 page layout.
Choreograph or facilitate a ritual of remembrance for those lost to state violence or erasure.
This can include reading names, lighting candles, music, or movement—adaptable to group or solo practice.
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