Author Archives: gayhighwaymen

Soldier. Homosexual. Native Son. Candidate. Empress. Activist. Gentleman. Widow. San Francisco Legend. R.I.P. Jose Sarria, aka the Nightengale of Montgomery St, the Widow Norton and Empress Jose I. born December 12, 1922/23. died August 19, 2013.
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First Gay Candidate.

Empress of San Francisco.

Regal Departure.

(Haiku for Jose Sarria)

Funeral service at 11am on Friday, September 6th at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Internment in Colma, reception at Lookout Bar on 16th Street.

Mike Caffee, who knew Jose, says his friends sometimes jokingly called him “the Nightmare of Montgomery Street” – instead of “Nightengale!”

The Bay Area Reporter has more here.

Photos 1, 2 & 4 Courtesy of the GLBT Historical Society (San Francisco).