By: Joseph R. Castel
The Jose Sarria Foundation announces the grand opening of the Jose Sarria pop-up museum in Palm Springs on October 16 through December 16, 2025, in the beautiful Welwood Murray Historic Library, located at 100 S Palm Canyon, Palm Springs.
Why a Jose Sarria Museum?
Jose was the first openly gay person to run for public office in the United States, 11 years before Harvey Milk. Born in San Francisco in 1922, to immigrant parents of Nicaraguan and Colombian descent, Jose was a first generation American who never believed he was less than for being openly gay, even in the 1950s. Although Jose did not win the San Francisco’s City Supervisor position in 1961, he did prove that the gay community had a voting block in the city, and shortly after his remarkable run, politicians such as Senator Diane Feinstein, courted the gay community for endorsements. San Francisco’s never been the same politically since Jose’s run when he kicked down the doors of homophobia with her red pumps.
The foundation was not only established in memory of Jose’s historic campaign, but also in honor of his philanthropic legacy. Jose’s had numerous monikers and titles in his life, including Empress I, Jose, the Widow Norton, of the Imperial Court System, which he founded in 1965. The Court System is still in existence today, and celebrating its 60th Anniversary in Palm Springs this November. The Court System, which has more than 50 chapters, is one of the country’s first and largest LGBT nonprofits that’s raised millions of dollars for hundreds of charities, especially during the AIDs crisis.
The museum will include many of Jose’s personal items, such as props, jewelry, and costumes from his cabaret shows, as well as his World War II artifacts, and the California Hall of Fame medal, awarded to him posthumously by Governor Gavin Newsome in 2023.
“Many of Jose’s friends promised him before he died that we would not let his important work be forgotten, so we created the Jose Sarria Foundation to help carry on his legacy to future generations,” said Gene Brake, the Foundation’s Chairperson. “Jose refused to be considered a second-class citizen and ran for office to prove we were as equal as anyone else. It’s an audacious statement by a Latino, WW2 veteran and drag queen, even today, much less in 1961,” added Brake. When Jose was displaced from San Francisco because of soaring rents, he moved to a mobile home park in Cathedral City (adjacent to Palm Springs). In 2022, Jose was awarded a star on Palm Spring’s Walk of Fame, not far from the gargantuan Forever Marilyn Monroe statue (his favorite movie star).
Jose’s Story
When San Francisco politicians threatened to shut down the city’s gay bars in 1961, Jose runs as an openly gay candidate for City Supervisor. From 1955 to 1963, Jose performed drag opera parodies at the Black Cat Café, a bohemian hangout for local artists, beatniks and gays in the North Beach section of San Francisco. From a stage made of four tables shoved together, Jose not only entertains his audiences with gay operatic story-lines, he galvanizes a disenfranchised community with such slogans as “Gay is Good!” and “United we stand, divided they’ll catch us one by one.”
Jose inspired his patrons to defy and circumvent unjust laws that deprived them of their civil rights. Whenever undercover officers entered the café, Jose exposed the officers by having his closeted customers stand up and sing, “God, Save Us Nelly Queens,” a clever rendition of Britain’s national anthem. It was the vice squad that shamefully retreated from the café, not its patrons.
In addition to his political run and philanthropic endeavors, Jose served in World War II, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, and with his unit, liberated the Hadamar death camp and marched into Berlin.
Palm Springs Sparkle
Jose’s foundation is partnering with Lip Gloss 760 to cohost a weekend (Dec. 12 -14) of events at the El Dorado Auditorium to honor Jose in celebration of what would’ve been his 103rd birthday. The Gala event will include an incredible benefit show, silent auction and other surprises all to benefit the Jose Sarria Foundation and pop-up museum. Suggested dress: cocktail attire with sparkle. “Bring the Bling”
The pop-up museum will also highlight the Imperial Courts from San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and many others. One of the Kingdoms included is Reno, which started the International Gay Rodeo Association. Such a rich history of community service, thanks to the vision of Jose Sarria.
The Jose Sarria Museum at the Welwood Murray Historic Library will be open seven days a week from 10 am to 6 pm, except on Thursday, when it’s open until 8 pm.
Be a part of LGBT history by honoring the legendary Jose Julio Sarria and become a museum sponsor. For more information visit: https://josesarria.org/museum/