José Sarria (1922-2013) was a Colombian born political activist, the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States and founder of the Imperial Court system. Colombian born political activist, the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States and founder of the Imperial Court system. Known as the Nightingale of Montgomery Street, Sarria became the most popular drag entertainer at The Black Cat in North Beach and used that popularity to forge a political career, fighting against the rampant persecution of Gay men by the authorities. He was a founder of the League for Civil Education (LCE), the Tavern Guild, Society for Individual Rights (SIR), and in 1964 was crowned Queen of the Beaux Arts Ball, but protesting that he was already a Queen, he proclaimed himself Empress of San Francisco, eventually professing to be the Widow Norton of the historic figure Joshua Norton.
Find his plaque on Market St between Castro and Noe