Press & Coverage
In the Media
Cooper Do-nuts has been covered by national and local press. The Foundation engages with all of it — including the coverage that raises questions we take seriously.
The story of Cooper Do-nuts and the 1959 uprising has attracted significant press attention — from enthusiastic coverage of its place in LGBTQ history to serious journalistic scrutiny of the evidentiary record. We think both kinds of coverage are important.
The Foundation’s response to the skeptical coverage is documented in full on The Evidence page. We don’t hide the hard questions. We answer them.
Coverage
The New York Times
“A Gay Riot at a Doughnut Shop? The Legend Has Some Holes.”
June 5, 2023
Erik Piepenburg
The most prominent skeptical treatment of the Cooper Do-nuts uprising claim, drawing on the research of historian Lydia Marsak. Piepenburg raises genuine evidentiary questions about the historical record — questions the Foundation has worked to answer directly. The article also contains John Rechy’s 2023 email, in which he confirms the events occurred on the same stretch of Main Street.
LAist
Coverage of the Cooper Do-nuts / Nancy Valverde Square ceremony and LAPD apology
June 2023
LAist covered the June 22, 2023 ceremony at which the City of Los Angeles officially designated the corner of 2nd and Main Streets “Cooper Do-nuts / Nancy Valverde Square.” The coverage includes LAPD Commander Ruby Flores’ formal public apology to LGBTQ citizens for the department’s historical harassment of the community.
Visit LAist →Los Angeles Times
Coverage of the 1959 uprising and the 2023 landmark designation
Various
The Los Angeles Times has covered Cooper Do-nuts at multiple points — both the historical narrative of the 1959 uprising and its contemporary civic recognition. The Foundation is completing its press archive; individual articles will be linked as they are confirmed.
Visit the Los Angeles Times →Los Angeles Magazine
“Ask Chris: Did LA Really Have the First Gay Riot?”
Various
Los Angeles Magazine has covered the Cooper Do-nuts story at various points, including the “Ask Chris” column which directly addressed the historical question of whether the 1959 uprising was the first modern LGBTQ uprising in America. Individual articles will be linked as the Foundation completes its press archive.
Visit Los Angeles Magazine →For press & media
Writing about Cooper Do-nuts?
The Foundation welcomes press inquiries. We can provide access to the Evans family archive, connect journalists with family members and community contributors, and share our full evidentiary research. We are committed to transparency and work with journalists across the spectrum of coverage — including those writing skeptical pieces.
For interview requests, fact-checking, photograph licensing, or general media inquiries, write to us directly.
Contact the Foundation →More coverage is being added.
The Foundation is building a comprehensive press archive. Follow our work as new coverage is added and new research is published.
We’ll only write when we have something worth saying.