RON HENGGELER

Jose Sarria was a veteran of World War 2, a drag queen, and gay rights pioneer who founded the theatrical Imperial Court organization.
He has been rightly called the Rosa Parks of the Gay Rights Movement.

(left) Jose Sarria, was the self-proclaimed widow of San Francisco’s beloved Emperor Norton (right).

The "state funeral services" for Jose Sarria, a.k.a. Empress I de San Francisco, The Widow Norton took place beginning at 11 a.m. at Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill in San Francisco.

The "state funeral services" for Jose Sarria, a.k.a. Empress I de San Francisco, The Widow Norton took place beginning at 11 a.m. at Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill in San Francisco.

 

In 1965, Jose Sarria declared himself Empress I de San Francisco, The Widow Norton, in a gesture to beloved legendary kook Emperor Joshua Norton, a Barbary Coast-era lunatic who declared himself Emperor of the United States a century before.

 

True to Sarria's big personality, and being the founder of the theatrical Imperial Court organization, he had left behind detailed instructions, including a dress code, for the funeral.

Laughter and tears for Jose Sarria

Sarria died on August 19 at the age of 90

 

 

 

Maurice Gerry, an old friend of Sarria's, speaks during A Celebration of Life service for Jose Julio Sarria at Grace Cathedral.

 

 

Sarria’s tiara and mourning veil

 

 

 

 

Nicole Murray-Ramirez (center with the feathered hat), Queen Mother of the Americas of the International Court System Canada - United States -Mexico

Sarria requested that all "female" Court members, i.e. the Empresses who followed him in annual coronation ceremonies here and in other chapter organizations around the country, come in "full-length (understated) Mourning attire" including, but obviously not limited to, "Crowns, Shoulder Length Veils Covering both Crowns and one's face, and Black gloves (opera length if wearing short sleeves)."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fittingly, Sarria long ago purchased a burial plot at Woodlawn Cemetery in Colma adjacent to Joshua Norton's

Joshua Abraham Norton c. 1892 – January 8, 1880, the self-proclaimed Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, was a celebrated citizen of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 proclaimed himself "Emperor of these United States" and subsequently "Protector of Mexico".

Jose Sarria a.k.a. Empress I de San Francisco, The Widow Norton

For more information on Jose Sarria and the funeral, visits these sites.

Pioneering gay activist dies at age 90
http://sfist.com/2013/08/19/pioneering_gay_activist_jose_sarria.php

Elaborate drag funeral at Grace Cathedral
http://sfist.com/2013/09/05/elaborate_state_funeral_tomorrow_fo.php

The announcement of the funeral
http://www.impcourt.org/wordpress/?p=282

The Chronicle article about the funeral by Carl Nolte
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Mourners-celebrate-gay-rights-pioneer-Jose-Sarria-4793842.php