Collection: Life Before Stonewall
Police arrests at the Exotic Carnival and Ball, 1962
Dozens of drag queens and trans women were locked up on charges of masquerading and indecent exposure at the National Variety Artists’ Exotic Carnival and Ball, held at the Manhattan Center in October 1962. Police and detectives herded the guests into police wagons in front of the ball. Photograph from the Bettmann/Getty Images.

