In response to raids on New Year’s Eve 1966 and early morning of New Year’s Day 1967 at the Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles, Personal Rights in Defense and Education (P.R.I.D.E) staged demonstrations in defense of the patrons and in protest of the police raids on the gay bar. This is believed to be the first time the acronym PRIDE was used in the LGBT committee. In an interview filmed on the 50th anniversary of the night, Alexei Romanoff used the opportunity to remind younger LGBT people; “It’s going to be …. on your shoulders to carry the fight forward.”

There is a short video clip of another Romanoff interview, this one from the documentary, L.A.:A Queer History, below.

Learn more about the events in 1967 at the Black Cat Tavern that predated Stonewall, but are often forgotten.