Elliott Blackstone
Encyclopedia
Elliott R. Blackstone (November 30, 1924 - October 25, 2006), a sergeant in the San Francisco Police Department
, was a longtime advocate for the lesbian
, gay
and transgender
community in that city.
Born in Chinook, Montana
, Blackstone served in the U.S. Navy during World War II
, and was honorably discharged. In 1949, he became a San Francisco police officer and was a pioneer of what is now called community policing. In 1962, he was designated as the department's first liaison officer with the "homophile
community," as it was then called. Blackstone worked within the police department to change policy and procedures directed against the LGBT
community, such as entrapment of gay men in public restrooms.
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Blackstone worked closely with local LGBT activist groups such as the Mattachine Society
, Daughters of Bilitis
, the Vanguard gay youth group, the National Transsexual Counseling Unit, and the Council on Religion and the Homosexual
. Blackstone even took up a collection at his church to buy hormone
s for transgender
people, at a time when city-funded health clinics would not provide hormones to them.
Blackstone was also involved in many other church and community activities, and taught community policing courses at the College of Marin
. At his retirement dinner in 1975, he was saluted by LGBT community leaders for his advocacy and support. In 2005, an interview with Blackstone was featured in Screaming Queens, a documentary about the 1966 Compton's Cafeteria riot
. According to one source,http://www.comptonscafeteriariot.org/blackstone.html#
In June, 2006 Blackstone received commendations for his longtime advocacy work from the California State Senate
, the California State Assembly
, the San Francisco Police Commission, and the San Francisco Human Rights Commission
. The Pride Foundation of San Francisco named him Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal for the 2006 Gay Pride
Parade.
Blackstone died of a stroke later that year, just a month short of his 82nd birthday.
San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...
, was a longtime advocate for the lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
community in that city.
Born in Chinook, Montana
Chinook, Montana
Chinook is a city in and the county seat of Blaine County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. Points of interest are the Bear Paw Battlefield Museum located in the small town's center and the Bear Paw Battlefield, located just twenty miles south of...
, Blackstone served in the U.S. Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was honorably discharged. In 1949, he became a San Francisco police officer and was a pioneer of what is now called community policing. In 1962, he was designated as the department's first liaison officer with the "homophile
Homophile
The word homophile is an alternative to the word for homosexual or gay. The homophile movement also refers to the gay rights movement of the 1950s and '60s....
community," as it was then called. Blackstone worked within the police department to change policy and procedures directed against the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
community, such as entrapment of gay men in public restrooms.
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Blackstone worked closely with local LGBT activist groups such as the Mattachine Society
Mattachine Society
The Mattachine Society, founded in 1950, was one of the earliest homophile organizations in the United States, probably second only to Chicago’s Society for Human Rights . Harry Hay and a group of Los Angeles male friends formed the group to protect and improve the rights of homosexuals...
, Daughters of Bilitis
Daughters of Bilitis
The Daughters of Bilitis , was the first lesbian rights organization in the United States. It was formed in San Francisco in 1955, conceived as a social alternative to lesbian bars, which were considered illegal and thus subject to raids and police harassment...
, the Vanguard gay youth group, the National Transsexual Counseling Unit, and the Council on Religion and the Homosexual
Council on Religion and the Homosexual
The Council on Religion and the Homosexual was a San Francisco-based organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of joining homosexual activists and religious leaders.-Formation:...
. Blackstone even took up a collection at his church to buy hormone
Hormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
s for transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
people, at a time when city-funded health clinics would not provide hormones to them.
Blackstone was also involved in many other church and community activities, and taught community policing courses at the College of Marin
College of Marin
The College of Marin is a community college in Marin County, California, U.S., with two campuses, one in Kentfield, and the second in Novato. It is the only institution operated by the Marin Community College District. Its chief executive officer is currently Superintendent/President David Wain...
. At his retirement dinner in 1975, he was saluted by LGBT community leaders for his advocacy and support. In 2005, an interview with Blackstone was featured in Screaming Queens, a documentary about the 1966 Compton's Cafeteria riot
Compton's cafeteria riot
The Compton's Cafeteria Riot occurred in August 1966 in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. This incident was one of the first recorded transgender riots in United States history, preceding the more famous 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City.A smaller-scale riot broke out in 1959 in Los...
. According to one source,http://www.comptonscafeteriariot.org/blackstone.html#
At the 2005 world premiere at the Castro Theater, Blackstone received a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd of more than 1000 people, when he answered an audience member's question; asked why, as a straight man, he had worked so hard on behalf of LGBT rights, he said, "Because my religion teaches me to love everybody."
In June, 2006 Blackstone received commendations for his longtime advocacy work from the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
, the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, the San Francisco Police Commission, and the San Francisco Human Rights Commission
San Francisco Human Rights Commission
The San Francisco Human Rights Commission is a department of the City and County of San Francisco that works to increase equality, eradicate discrimination, and to protect human rights for all people...
. The Pride Foundation of San Francisco named him Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal for the 2006 Gay Pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
Parade.
Blackstone died of a stroke later that year, just a month short of his 82nd birthday.
External links
- Obituary of Sgt. Blackstone, San Francisco Chronicle
- Compton's Cafeteria riot web site
- "San Francisco Pride Announces Sergeant Elliot Blackstone Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal"
- "Pride Parade Salute for an Unlikely Ally," San Francisco Chronicle
- Commendation of Sgt. Blackstone at site of riots, and dedication of granite plaque set into the sidewalk