Posted in Drag Community Featured Story Gay Bars & Clubs LGBT Entertainers LGBT Political Leaders Mass Media & Pop Culture

50 Years of Fabulous: Documentary celebrates Imperial Council

“United we stand, divided they’ll catch us one by one.” Jose Sarria, founder of the Imperial Court This week’s Bay Area Reporter reviews a new…

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Posted in Castro LGBT Academics & Writers LGBT Activitists LGBT Artists LGBT Business People LGBT Entertainers LGBT Heroes LGBT Political Leaders LGBT Scientists & Tech LGBT Sports Figures Memorials

Rainbow Honor Walk adds new honorees

We previously reported on the first 20 honorees for the Castro’s Rainbow Honor Walk — a series of bronze plaques in San Francisco’s Castro District…

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Posted in Gay Bars & Clubs LGBT Academics & Writers LGBT Heroes LGBT Political Leaders Political Organizations Sexual Liberation This Week in SF Gay History

This month in SF Gay History: September

September 17, 1859 On this date in 1859, Joshua Norton proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States, becoming one of SF’s most colorful characters and…

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Posted in LGBT Artists LGBT Business People LGBT Political Leaders Marriage Equality Public Accommodations This Week in SF Gay History

This month in SF Gay History: August

August 2, 1924 On this date in 1924, author James Baldwin (Giovanni’s Room), now honored on the Castro’s Rainbow Honor Walk, was born. August 19,…

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Posted in Drag Community LGBT Activitists Political Organizations

This week in SF Gay History: December 8 – 14

The Henry Gerber House in Chicago, Illinois December 12, 1922 On this date in 1922 or 1923 (the exact year is disputed), José Julio Sarria…

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Posted in Gay Bars & Clubs North Beach

The Black Cat Café’s second act

We’ve written extensively about the Black Cat Café in North Beach, one of San Francisco’s early gay bars thanks to the efforts of Jose Sarria,…

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Posted in LGBT Political Leaders Marriage Equality This Week in SF Gay History

This Week in SF Gay History: November 3 – 9

November 7, 1961 On this date in 1961, Jose Sarria, the first openly gay political candidate in the U.S., finished 9th for 5 open SF…

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Posted in Gay Bars & Clubs Halloween North Beach

The gays get into the Halloween spirit

SF’s Gay Halloween – Part 2 Gay Halloween in North Beach The old Barbary Coast area of San Francisco, which includes parts of the present-day…

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Posted in Drag Community LGBT Activitists LGBT Entertainers North Beach

José Sarria (1922/1923 – 2013)

José Julio Sarria was born on December 12 in either 1922 or 1923 in San Francisco, raised primarily by a single mother. Following his service in…

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Norton the First, Emperor of the United States, Protector of Mexico
Posted in People

Emperor Norton I (c. 1818 – 1880)

Lesbian and gay San Franciscans may fondly remember Jose Sarria as the Widow Norton, Empress I of San Francisco. But if she was the widow…

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