By: Joe Castel
Jose Sarria, a World War II Veteran and drag performer for more than 50 years, was awarded Palm Springs’ 453rd Star on its Walk of Stars, December 12. Palm Springs’ Mayor Lisa Middleton unveiled the star alongside Gene Brake, founder of the Jose Sarria Foundation, at a public ceremony in celebration of what would have been Jose’s 100th birthday. Sarria died at the age of 90 in 2013.
Jose’s Story
From 1955 to 1963, Jose performed opera parodies at the Black Cat Café, a bohemian hangout for local artists, beatniks and gays in a section of San Francisco’s North Beach area. From a stage made of four tables shoved together, Jose not only entertained his audiences with gay operatic story-lines, he galvanized a disenfranchised community with such slogans as “United we stand, divided they’ll catch us one by one.”
Jose inspired his patrons to stand up for their rights by teaching them how to defy and circumvent unjust laws that deprived them of their basic rights. Whenever undercover officers entered the café to entrap patrons, the queen bee exposed his antagonists by having his customers stand up and sing, “God, Save Us Nelly Queens,” a clever rendition of Britain’s national anthem, as the vice shamefully retreated from the café.
When San Francisco politicians threatened to shut down all the gay bars in 1961, Sarria ran as an openly gay candidate for City Supervisor, 11 years before Harvey Milk. Jose’s cabaret platform served as a podium to teach his closeted customers to not only believe in his slogan, ‘Gay is Good,’ he rallies them to support his political campaign.
Jose loses the election, receiving 6,000 votes, but he proves for the first time that the gay community has a voting bloc. Through the 1960s, the LGBTQ community courts and votes for “gay friendly” officials into office and then ultimately, Jose’s historic campaign paves the way for LGBTQ politicians like Palm Springs’ Mayor Middleton. Middleton is the third transgender person in U.S. history to serve as Mayor of an American city, and the first transgender person to serve as Mayor in the state of California. “For all of us who are members of the LGBTQ community, who are standing here today, we stand on the shoulders of Jose Sarria,” said Middleton at the unveiling of Jose’s star. Middleton spoke of how Jose returned from World War II and was ready for a new fight on the home front by confronting the homophobic establishment that made him, a decorated soldier who had help defeat Nazism, feel like a “second class citizen”.
Jose’s claim to fame doesn’t end with the title of the first openly gay man to run for office. Jose also started one of the first and largest LGBTQ nonprofit in the world. In 1965, Jose founded the Imperial Court System, in which he proclaimed himself Empress I, Jose. Every year, San Francisco elects a new Empress and Emperor to fundraise all year long. The organization has grown to more than 70 chapters throughout North America. Each kingdom (chapter) raises millions of dollars for countless charities throughout the continent.
Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce’s CEO Nona Watson spoke about the legendary diva who resided in Cathedral City for nearly a decade. “The Chamber is honored to host the star ceremony for Jose Julio Sarria, giving him the 453rd star,” Watson said. Jose’s star is aptly located near another diva, and he’s not adjacent to just any random star on the sidewalk. Jose’s star is next to the towering Forever Marilyn statue, on the corner of Museum Way and Belardo Road.
Jose’s star is the only and first Star to be located next to the cinematic icon. When the city asked the Jose Sarria Foundation if it had a location preference for Jose, it was revealed by a board member that Jose admired Monroe, so much, that during his cabaret act in 1962, he gave a loving tribute to Marilyn on the night of her untimely death. At first, the City of Palm Springs resisted placing Jose’s star next to the Forever Marilyn statue, because no Star has been placed there. Clearly, divine intervention guided those in power to make the right decision.
“As Jose neared the end of his life, he feared people wouldn’t remember his contributions and many of us are committed to make sure that will not happen,” said Gene Brake, the founder of the Jose Sarria Foundation. “This recognition helps make good on that commitment and the star’s location near his favorite actress is picture perfect.”
Jose Sarria, a World War II Veteran and drag performer for more than 50 years, was awarded Palm Springs’ 453rd Star on its Walk of Stars, December 12. Palm Springs’ Mayor Lisa Middleton unveiled the star alongside Gene Brake, founder of the Jose Sarria Foundation, at a public ceremony in celebration of what would have been Jose’s 100th birthday. Sarria died at the age of 90 in 2013.
Jose’s Story
From 1955 to 1963, Jose performed opera parodies at the Black Cat Café, a bohemian hangout for local artists, beatniks and gays in a section of San Francisco’s North Beach area. From a stage made of four tables shoved together, Jose not only entertained his audiences with gay operatic story-lines, he galvanized a disenfranchised community with such slogans as “United we stand, divided they’ll catch us one by one.”
Jose inspired his patrons to stand up for their rights by teaching them how to defy and circumvent unjust laws that deprived them of their basic rights. Whenever undercover officers entered the café to entrap patrons, the queen bee exposed his antagonists by having his customers stand up and sing, “God, Save Us Nelly Queens,” a clever rendition of Britain’s national anthem, as the vice shamefully retreated from the café.
When San Francisco politicians threatened to shut down all the gay bars in 1961, Sarria ran as an openly gay candidate for City Supervisor, 11 years before Harvey Milk. Jose’s cabaret platform served as a podium to teach his closeted customers to not only believe in his slogan, ‘Gay is Good,’ he rallies them to support his political campaign.
Jose loses the election, receiving 6,000 votes, but he proves for the first time that the gay community has a voting bloc. Through the 1960s, the LGBTQ community courts and votes for “gay friendly” officials into office and then ultimately, Jose’s historic campaign paves the way for LGBTQ politicians like Palm Springs’ Mayor Middleton. Middleton is the third transgender person in U.S. history to serve as Mayor of an American city, and the first transgender person to serve as Mayor in the state of California. “For all of us who are members of the LGBTQ community, who are standing here today, we stand on the shoulders of Jose Sarria,” said Middleton at the unveiling of Jose’s star. Middleton spoke of how Jose returned from World War II and was ready for a new fight on the home front by confronting the homophobic establishment that made him, a decorated soldier who had help defeat Nazism, feel like a “second class citizen”.
Jose’s claim to fame doesn’t end with the title of the first openly gay man to run for office. Jose also started one of the first and largest LGBTQ nonprofit in the world. In 1965, Jose founded the Imperial Court System, in which he proclaimed himself Empress I, Jose. Every year, San Francisco elects a new Empress and Emperor to fundraise all year long. The organization has grown to more than 70 chapters throughout North America. Each kingdom (chapter) raises millions of dollars for countless charities throughout the continent.
Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce’s CEO Nona Watson spoke about the legendary diva who resided in Cathedral City for nearly a decade. “The Chamber is honored to host the star ceremony for Jose Julio Sarria, giving him the 453rd star,” Watson said. Jose’s star is aptly located near another diva, and he’s not adjacent to just any random star on the sidewalk. Jose’s star is next to the towering Forever Marilyn statue, on the corner of Museum Way and Belardo Road.
Jose’s star is the only and first Star to be located next to the cinematic icon. When the city asked the Jose Sarria Foundation if it had a location preference for Jose, it was revealed by a board member that Jose admired Monroe, so much, that during his cabaret act in 1962, he gave a loving tribute to Marilyn on the night of her untimely death. At first, the City of Palm Springs resisted placing Jose’s star next to the Forever Marilyn statue, because no Star has been placed there. Clearly, divine intervention guided those in power to make the right decision.
“As Jose neared the end of his life, he feared people wouldn’t remember his contributions and many of us are committed to make sure that will not happen,” said Gene Brake, the founder of the Jose Sarria Foundation. “This recognition helps make good on that commitment and the star’s location near his favorite actress is picture perfect.”