Black Cat Tavern

For the San Francisco bar of the same name, see Black Cat Bar

The Black Cat Tavern was an LGBT bar formerly located at 3909 W. Sunset Blvd. in the Silverlake section of Los Angeles, California.

History

In 1967, the night of New Years, several plain clothed police officers infiltrated the Black Cat Tavern.^[1] After arresting several patrons for kissing to celebrate the occasion,^[2] the self-unidentified police officers began beating several of the patrons^[3] and ultimately arrested 16 more bar attendees which included 3 bartenders.^[3] The bar was established only two months prior. This created a riot in the immediate area, ultimately bringing about a more civil demonstration of over 200 attendees several days later protesting the raids.^[4] The protest was met by squadrons of armed policemen.^[1] Two of the men arrested for kissing were later convicted under state law and registered as sex offenders. The men appealed, asserting the right of equal protection under the law, but the U.S. Supreme Court did not accept their case.

It was from this event that the publication The Advocate and the organization Metropolitan Community Church (led by Pastor Troy Perry) were born.^[5]

These events pre-dated the Stonewall riots by over two years.

The Black Cat Tavern has since closed and is now a gay Latino bar called Le Barcito.^[6] The original sign depicting a black and white cat is still posted on the building today.

On November 7, 2008, the site was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.^[7]

Footnotes