Stormé DeLarverie (1920–2014) was a biracial butch lesbian, drag king, and LGBTQ+ icon who famously helped spark the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in NYC. A performer and MC for the racially integrated Jewel Box Revue, she was known as a "guardian" of the community, working as a bouncer and protecting lesbian spaces for decades.
Key Facts About Stormé DeLarverie:
- Stonewall Uprising: Many believe she threw the first punch (in self-defense) during the 1969 raid, often called the "Rosa Parks" of the LGBTQ+ movement.
- Jewel Box Revue: From 1955 to 1969, she was the only male impersonator (drag king) in this prominent, integrated touring troupe, working as the MC.
- Activism & Security: She was a member of the Stonewall Veterans' Association, serving as their security and ambassador, and regularly patrolled lesbian bars to protect "her baby girls".
- Early Life: Born in New Orleans to a Black mother and white father, she was a singer and performer from a young age.
- Legacy: She was known for her tailored suit-and-tie style, baritone voice, and commitment to fighting discrimination.
Stormé DeLarverie's life story and images are archived in the Library of Congress and with the New York Public Library.