In 1955, Stormé began to perform as a drag king, (then termed a “male impersonator”) in Chicago’s Jewel Box Revue. She embodied a traditionally feminine persona, singing with big bands and swing orchestras. Stormé began performing in her early 20s, singing and dancing in Chicago bars and clubs. At 18, she moved north to Chicago, where she hoped to find more acceptance as a mixed-race gay woman. Growing up in the American South at that time, this meant that she had no legal birth certificate - one of the first structural forms of discrimination she was to experience in a long life of resistance and resilience. The Stonewall protests, which took place at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, instigated the celebration of Pride as it’s known today - the first parades and celebrations were commemorative of the clash on June 28, 1969.īorn in New Orleans in the 1920s, Stormé was the daughter of biracial parents. After throwing punches at the 1969 Stonewall protests in New York City, DeLarverie was renowned for her staunch, no nonsense front against homophobia and discrimination.
“Ugly,” for her, was any form of bias, discrimination or harassment - particularly against gay women. Stormé DeLarverie didn’t put up with ugly.
Queer heroes aren’t often given the recognition they deserve, but Pride is an opportunity to celebrate them and make sure they’re not forgotten. This month, in celebration of Pride, we’ll be posting stories of inspiring women who are activists in the LGBTQ+ community.
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