Jose Julio Sarria, born December 13, 1922, became the first openly gay man to run for public office in the United States, when he ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961. The issue of the city government becoming lenient toward homosexuals had become an issue in San Francisco's mayoral election in 1959.
Sarria had been performing in drag at the Black Cat bar, which seemed to be under constant police harassment, when raids on gay bars were routine. He did not expect to win but almost did because of default. Less than five candidates had filed to run on the final day to register, which would have guaranteed Sarria a seat. However, by the end of that day, thirty-four candidates had filed. Sarria came in ninth but garnered about 6000 votes. That stunned many politicos in the city, who now realized that the gay voting bloc had power.
Sarria continued to perform in drag but also remained very active in fighting for gay rights.
He passed away in August 2013 from adrenal cancer in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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