José Sarria
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José Julio Sarria, also known as The Grand Mere, Absolute Empress I de San Francisco, and the Widow Norton, was an American political activist from San Francisco, California, who, in 1961, became the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States. He is also remembered for performing as a drag queen at the Black Cat Bar and as the founder of the Imperial Court System.
Sarria dines in Kenmore Square, 2010
Sarria donned a suit for his 1961 run for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
A street sign for José Sarria Court, renamed in 2006 in honor of Sarria's lifetime of political and social contributions.
GLBT Historical Society
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The GLBT Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of archival materials, artifacts and graphic arts relating to the history of LGBT people in the United States, with a focus on the LGBT communities of San Francisco and Northern California.
The main gallery at the GLBT Historical Society headquarters at 657 Mission St., San Francisco; opening of the "Polk Street: Lives in Transition" exhibition, curated by Joey Plaster (Jan. 16, 2009).
The "Passionate Struggle" exhibition at the GLBT Historical Society's temporary museum in the Castro neighborhood (Feb. 7, 2009).
The GLBT History Museum in San Francisco on the evening that it opened for previews, Dec 10, 2010.
Pantsuits worn by Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon to their weddings in San Francisco in 2004 and 2008; on display at the GLBT History Museum.