José Sarria, who was of Latin-American descent, was born in San Francisco December 12, 1923.
He was raised by his mother and grandmother, who allowed him to dress
in women’s clothes.
During World War II, Sarria enlisted in the army. His fellow soldiers
discriminated against him because he was gay. Sarria became friends
with some by giving them tours of San Francisco.
Sarria began performing at “The Black Cat,” a San Francisco gay club.
His shows, which included warning guests of police extortion and raids
on gay bars, were a hit. Although the messages were often serious,
Sarria presented them humorously and with a gay twist. He became famous
for his closing song, “God Save Us Nelly Queens.”
In 1961, Sarria became the first openly gay candidate for the San
Francisco Board of Supervisors. He lost, but received 5,600 votes,
demonstrating that a gay voting bloc could wield political power. The
possibility of empowerment laid the groundwork for the election of
Harvey Milk.
In the 1960s, San Francisco gay bars were being shut down. The Tavern
Guild of San Francisco organized a drag ball to protest. Sarria was
crowned Queen of the Ball. 
Sarria cofounded the Imperial Court System, an international
organization that raises money for people living with HIV/AIDS and other
causes. In 2006, a street in San Francisco was named in his honor. Sarria passed away August 19, 2013.
“Why be ashamed of who you are?"
