For Immediate Release 3/1/25

TRANSGENDER ACTIVISTS AND ALLIES TO HOLD “DO NOT COMPLY” RALLY FOR TRANS POWER & UNITY IN SAN FRANCISCO

At the Site of the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, Trans Community Mobilizes Against State Violence

San Francisco, CA – On Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM, transgender activists, community leaders, and allies will gather at the historic site of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot (Turk & Taylor Streets) for the DO NOT COMPLY Rally for Trans Power & Unity. The event will honor trans lives recently lost to violence—Sam Nordquist, Tahiry Broom, Ra’Lasia Wright and Amyri Dior— protest the banning of LGBTQIA words and the erasure of trans history from Stonewall Inn in New York City, while demanding action from city and state officials and mobilizing the community in resistance against anti-trans policies sweeping the nation.

Thousands of webpages were censored which documented LGBT+ history, healthcare and safety this year. With 390 anti-LGBTQ+ bills currently under consideration nationwide, transgender people—especially trans youth, immigrants, BIPOC, people with disabilities, people who are incarcerated, working class people, servicemembers and athletes—are facing escalating attacks from state legislatures, law enforcement, and federal agencies. From healthcare bans to the rollback of workplace and immigration protections, these policies put lives at risk.

“Trans people have survived police violence, government neglect, and political scapegoating for generations,” said Zander Moreno Lozano, poet and community organizer. “We are here to say: we will not comply with policies that erase us, criminalize us, or attempt to dictate our existence. We are fighting back.”

“San Francisco has always been a battleground for transgender survival and resistance. From the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot in 1966 to today, trans people—especially Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, and immigrant trans folks—have fought for the right to exist on our own terms. We’ve been criminalized, erased, and exploited, but we’ve never backed down. This rally is not just about mourning our lost siblings; it’s about making sure their struggles were not in vain. We are here, we are powerful, and we will not comply with policies that seek to erase us.” - Susan Stryker, Historian

“Black and Brown trans people in San Francisco are facing an affordable housing crisis—trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people here are 18 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population, and the numbers are even worse for our Black and Brown trans family. San Francisco has one of the largest TGNC populations in the country, and it’s past time we put real funding behind trans futures. That means more than just access to housing—it means investing in the resources, jobs, and safety that our community needs to thrive. We have the chance to lead by example, but that starts with action, not just words.” - Kazani Finao, Organizer

Event Details

Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: Compton’s Cafeteria (Turk & Taylor Streets, Tenderloin), San Francisco

Organized by grassroots transgender activists & allies, QTBIPOC-led and supported by the TurkxTaylor Initiative, El/La TransLatinas, TGIJP, Trans March, Gay Shame, and more.

Press Coverage

KQED

Ultraviolet

Golden Gate Express

BFF Radio

Mission Local

Tenderloin Times *Coming Soon!


Campaign Progress Update

Over the past several weeks, the Compton’s x Coalition has made significant strides in our campaign to liberate 111 Taylor Street and remove GEO Group from this historic trans landmark:

  • Policy & Legal Action: We circulated a detailed AB 32 enforcement memo and submitted public records requests to key agencies, including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), San Francisco Planning Department, California Labor Commissioner’s Office, Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), Cal/OSHA, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), SF Board of Supervisors, and SF Department of Probation & Parole.

  • Government Engagement: We secured meetings with the offices of SF District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Assembly Member Matt Haney and SF Planning. We’ve also requested meetings the SF City Attorney, and District Supervisor Jackie Fielder.

  • Power Mapping & Research: We conducted a comprehensive power map of GEO Group and completed a full investigation of their contracts, identifying multiple discrepancies and abuses in a legal appendix.

  • Movement Building: Our team completed an initial round of outreach to attorneys, funders, and prospective coalition members to grow our movement and deepen support.

  • Community Mobilization: We helped organize three major events to uplift trans voices and build community power:

    • DO NOT COMPLY: Rally for Trans Power and Unity

    • TDOV TransFest

    • An upcoming Community Listening Event on April 26th

  • Strategic Planning: We’ve also developed contingency plans to protect our campaign’s long-term success, regardless of shifting political or funding landscapes.

Together, we are laying the groundwork for transformative, trans-centered stewardship of 111 Taylor. Stay tuned and get involved—this movement is just getting started.

TurkxTaylor Initiative Hosts Community Progress Update in Tenderloin

The TurkxTaylor Initiative (TxT) is inviting community members to a Community Progress Update on Saturday, April 26, from 2-5 PM at the Ambassador Hotel (55 Mason St, Tenderloin).

This gathering will take place at the Ambassador Hotel, a historic queer site in the Tenderloin. During the height of the AIDS crisis, the Ambassador served as harm reduction housing, providing refuge for those most impacted by the epidemic. Today, it is owned by the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC), which has generously allowed TxT to use the space for this event.

As TxT continues to evolve, the initiative has been growing and restructuring around two core projects: Community Envisioning and Campaign Advocacy. These efforts are carried out through nonhierarchical working groups focused on oral histories, neighborhood art collaborations, data-driven surveys at 111 Taylor, outreach and political education, and legislative research. Through these projects, TxT aims to strengthen community ties and advance policies that protect and uplift trans and low-income residents.

TxT has also played a critical role in platforming autonomous organizers, including those who recently led the DO NOT COMPLY Rally for Trans Power and Unity and TDOV Trans Fest. By amplifying these actions on social media, TxT ensures that frontline activists and community members have the turnout they need to overcome systemic oppression, celebrate trans identities, and build collective power.

The gathering will also serve as a space to connect with the ComptonsCoalition, a network of trans-centered and Tenderloin-based organizations and stakeholders working toward shared community goals. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about ongoing projects and find ways to get involved.

The event is open to the public. Whether you’re a resident, advocate, or ally, TxT invites you to plug into the work and help shape the future of the Tenderloin.