What Kind of Queen?: A Royal Biography of Drag Queen and Activist José Sarria

This book presents a fairy tale of a story that happens to be true, complemented by illustrations that distance readers from some of the darker aspects of its subject’s journey while still telling a complete story of a civil rights hero. José Sarria was a pioneering activist and drag queen who would become and the first out gay candidate for public office in the United States, and it all started with his childhood dream of a world where there was dignity and justice for all people. Born in San Francisco in 1922 to Colombian immigrant parents, Sarria grew up with strong family support and a belief that everyone deserved respect. From an early age, he envisioned himself as royalty who would use his power to protect and uplift people. As a young man, he served in World War II, helping to liberate a Nazi concentration camp. Upon returning home, he embraced his identity as a performer and activist, becoming a celebrated drag queen who performed at San Francisco’s Black Cat Café, a vibrant center for artists, dissidents, and LGBTQIA+ pioneers. Through his performances, Sarria encouraged others to live truthfully and without shame. Alongside Lozito’s mixed-media illustrations in a warm color palette, Chu and Shaffer’s poetic and lighthearted treatment of Sarria’s life shows how he transformed his childhood dream of queendom into real-world activism.