Jos� 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 was born to Julio Sarria and Maria Dolores Maldonado. His parents did not marry and his father showed no interest in his son's life. Maria initially raised Jos� on her own, but when this became too difficult she placed him with another couple. Both they and his mother indulged his early interest in wearing girl's clothing. Sarria showed an affinity for languages, which led to his first serious romance with another man. Sarria tutored Paul Kolish, an Austrian baron who had fled from the Nazis. Sarria and Kolish fell in love, and their relationship endured until Kolish and his son were killed in a car accident in 1947. Sarria served in the United States Army during World War II. Following his discharge, he studied to become a teacher and frequented the Black Cat. 

December 13th, 1923 in San Francisco  /  Died:   Aug 19th, 2013