August, But Make It Trans

While 2SLGBTQIA+ and trans visibility days are observed around the globe, California holds a unique title: it’s the only place in the world that devotes an entire month to transgender history.

Since its official proclamation in 2023, Californians — and especially San Franciscans — have carved out space to honor, uplift, and revel in the legacy of pioneers and trailblazers who sparked movements, changed history, and are still making history today. Their impact reaches far beyond the state’s borders, shaping a brighter future for trans people nationwide.

From the Tenderloin to Trans History Month – A Timeline

If cities had Kinsey scales, San Francisco would be a solid 6 — unapologetically queer, historically radical, and still a magnet for LGBTQ+ people from around the globe.

San Francisco isn’t just queer-friendly — it’s statistically the queerest major city in America. (“LGBT Adults in Large US Metropolitan Areas”)

From the first openly lesbian bar to trans-led political milestones, SF’s streets have been a stage for defiance, creativity, and change for nearly a century. This city hasn’t just witnessed queer history — it’s made it, over and over again.

Transgender History Month is our invitation to keep making it. Every August, we don’t just look back—we claim space, tell our stories, and carry forward the legacy of those who built the path we walk today.

Scroll through this timeline to see how San Francisco’s decades of protest, pride, and progress built the foundation for California’s Transgender History Month.

1930s to 1950s

• 1934 – Mona’s 440 Club opens as the first openly lesbian bar in the U.S., with tuxedo-clad waitresses and performers.
• 1955 – Daughters of Bilitis founded by Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, the first lesbian rights organization in the U.S.
• 1956 – Mattachine Society moves its headquarters from L.A. to SF, becoming a central hub for gay liberation.

1960s

• 1961 – José Sarria runs for SF Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay person to run for public office in the U.S.
• 1965 – Imperial Court founded, establishing an international drag philanthropic network.
• 1966 – Compton’s Cafeteria Riot erupts, one of the first acts of organized trans resistance in U.S. history.

1970s

• 1972 – SF passes first local gay rights ordinance, banning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.
• 1977 – Harvey Milk is elected to the Board of Supervisors, the first openly gay man in California to hold public office.
• 1978 – Gilbert Baker’s rainbow flag debuts at SF Gay Freedom Day Parade, becoming a global LGBTQ+ symbol.

1980s

• 1982 – SF AIDS Foundation founded to combat the AIDS crisis.
• 1982 – First Gay Games held in SF, becoming the largest sporting/cultural event for LGBTQ+ athletes.
• 1989 – Castro Sweep: police violently disperse ACT UP protestors, later leading to civil rights settlements.

1990s

• 1993 – First Dyke March held during Pride Weekend, celebrating lesbian visibility.
• 1997–1999 – James Hormel becomes the first openly gay U.S. ambassador via recess appointment. Roberta Achtenberg appointed Assistant Secretary of HUD, the first openly gay or lesbian person to face Senate confirmation.

2000s

• 2001 – SF covers gender reassignment surgery for city employees, a U.S. first.
• 2004 – Mayor Gavin Newsom orders same-sex marriages; nearly 4,000 couples wed before state intervention.
• 2008 – GLBT Historical Society Museum opens temporary space in the Castro, later becoming the first stand-alone LGBTQ museum in the U.S.

2010-Present

• 2017 – Honey Mahogany co-founds SF’s Transgender District, the first legally recognized trans cultural district in the world.
• 2021 – Jupiter Peraza successfully advocates for San Francisco’s official Transgender History Month proclamation, the first of its kind in the nation.

‍

September 6, 2023 — The California State Assembly passed House Resolution 57, formally designating August as Transgender History Month, with statewide observance beginning in 2024—making California the first U.S. state to recognize it.

Now, each August, San Francisco stands at the forefront—amplifying trans voices, honoring their resilience, and ensuring this history continues to be written.