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Stormé DeLarverie

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Advocate

The Resume

    (December 24, 1920-May 24, 2014)
    Born in New Orleans, Louisiana
    Drag king and singer
    MC of the Jewel Box Revue (1955-69)
    Often credited with triggering the Stonewall uprising during a scuffle with police (June 28, 1969)
    Known as 'the Rosa Parks of the gay community'

Why she might be annoying:

    She was rumored to have been a bodyguard for Chicago mobsters.
    It remains unclear if she really was the 'butch lesbian' who repeatedly escaped from the clutches of the police, then, after being locked in a police wagon, yelled at onlookers, 'Why don't you guys do something,' sparking the violence at Stonewall.
    Many of the accolades that came her way arrived after she was suffering dementia and not best able to appreciate the honors.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She was bullied growing up for being biracial.
    The Jewel Box Revue was the first racially integrated drag show.
    She was photographed by Diane Arbus.
    She was a bouncer in lesbian bars well into her 80s.
    In addition to her activities for the LGBTQ community, she organized and performed at benefits for abused women and children.
    A friend said about her life, 'If it were a movie, [it] would resemble 'Shaft,' 'Victor/Victoria' and 'Norma Rae' wrapped up in one and co-directed by Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying