Historical Society Honors Jose Sarria, aka Widow Norton
By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Published: October 8, 2009
http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=11609It was a very special visit from José Sarria to the GLBT Historical Society at the 499 Castro Street museum on Oct. 3 as he unveiled the display of his 1970 Coronation gown. Sarria is the founder of the International Court System and an early gay rights activist. He was a regular performer at the Black Cat, member of the Tavern Guild, activist with the Society of Individual Rights (SIR), and in 1962 he became the first openly gay person to run for public office in the United States. He dared to declare himself as the Widow Norton, heiress of the notorious Emperor Norton, self-proclaimed ruler of California and Mexico. Because of Empress José's declaration in San Francisco, the entire planet is now inhabited by hundreds upon hundreds of Imperial Court members raising thousands upon thousands of dollars for worthy charities.
The Widow Norton's gown and crown, worn circa 1970, is a stunning purple, black, and silver empire number of velvet and other fabrics, and currently rivals a directly oppositely placed exhibition of '70 disco diva Sylvester's orange and silver gown.
