The Black Cat Tavern is an LGBT historic site located in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

In 1967, it was the site of one of the first demonstrations in the United States protesting police brutality against LGBT people, preceding the Stonewall riots by over two years.

[4] On January 1, 1967, at the bar's New Year's Eve celebration, several plainclothes Los Angeles Police Department officers infiltrated the tavern.

[5] According to local gay newspaper Tangents, "the Black Cat was happy and hopping" before undercover police arrived and started beating patrons as they were ringing in the New Year: "There were colored balloons covering the ceiling ... and three glittering Christmas trees.

[11] Contrary to popular myth, there was not a riot at the Black Cat, but a civil demonstration of 200 attendees to protest the raids was held on February 11, 1967.

[12] The demonstration was organized by a group called PRIDE (Personal Rights in Defense and Education), founded by Steve Ginsberg, and the SCCRH (Southern California Council on Religion and Homophile).

[28] In 2008, the city of LA Cultural Heritage Commission installed a plaque on the building where the original Black Cat Tavern resided, recognizing it as the site of the first LGBTQ civil rights demonstration in the nation.

[31] In 2022, Shake Shack opened a location in the adjoining unit and placed three large signs on the historic duplex, dominating much of the Art Deco building with its branding.

Girl called the changes "a slap in the face", noting the company's links to anti-LGBT politicians[32] The Silver Lake Shake Shack location ultimately closed in 2024.