Legendary Drag Queen José Julia Sarria Dead at 91SUNNIVIE BRYDUM, AUGUST 19, 2013, 6:08 PM ET
Legendary gay rights activist and founder of the Imperial Court System José Julia Sarria died this morning in his home in New Mexico, reports GLAAD. Sarria was 91.
Sarria was a World War II veteran who after being discharged in 1945 became the best-known drag queen in San Francisco, according to GLAAD's retrospective. After winning first place at a drag competition in 1965, Sarria declared himself "Empress José I, The Widow Norton," launching what would become the International Court System of the United States, one of the longest-standing LGBT philanthropic endeavors in the country. Today, there are Imperial Court Chapters in 68 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
But while Sarria was most famous for his drag performances and founding role in the International Court System, the out veteran also had a penchant for political activism. In 1961, Sarria helped form one of the first gay rights organizations in the country, the League for Civil Education, which was the first gay nonprofit registered in California...
