Setting the Stage: National and Local Sentiments at Bar Raids Beginnings

The city of Houston had no unified gay presence for much of its existence. Documentation of police encounters of homosexual (and to a lesser extent, other LGBT) individuals has existed for much of Houston’s history, though no systematic patterns or motivations existed. [1] Nationwide, sodomy laws were in place on a state-by-state basis that made homosexual acts a felony. Starting in 1962, some states began to repeal these laws, but it was not until 2003 that the United States Supreme Court declared such laws unconstitutional. [2] Many cities had anti-cross-dressing laws, and in general, the police opposed the LGBT population and harassed known gay people in their day-to-day lives. [3] Organizations that provided a platform for what would become LGBT activism existed in Houston since 1953, such as The Diana Foundation, and these organizations provided fundraising and support for Houston’s emerging queer community. [4] [5] Four gay newspapers existed by the early 70s (The Albatross, The Nuntius, Gayboy, and Our Community), and one of the nation’s first transgender clinics was opened at The University of Texas Medical Branch, but it wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the LGBT movement in Houston exploded. [6] [7] [8]

In the following pages, we will highlight some key events in national and Houston history which set the stage for Houston's Bar Raids. "Gene Compton's Cafeteria" highlights a 1966 San Francisco police raid on crossdressers, and the riot that resulted. "Stonewall" discusses the pivotal riots that occurred in New York City in 1969, fueling nationwide gay rights activism. Finally, "Anita Bryant" sheds light on the visit of a prominent anti-gay celebrity to Houston in 1977, and the mass movement and incitement to action of Houston's gay community as a result.