We’ve extended our campaign

Dear Friends,

We’ve extended our campaign to April 10 in order to invite communities and organizations across the country to be a part of this historic project! Join us in recognizing Jose’s immeasurable contributions to the LGBT movement with an overdue biography on the legendary diva and activist. Please tell your friends that their tax deductible contribution is made possible through our fiscal sponsor, From The Heart Productions. 

Thank you for your support.  

Joe Castel, Executive Producer

4 Days Left for Our IndieGoGo Funding - Make a Tax Deductible Donation Today!

7 days left! Please help us preserve our history and reclaim Jose’s rightful place in the LGBTQ pantheon of heroes and in our school’s curriculum. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Nelly Queen Needs Your Contribution!   Time Is Running Out Dear Friends,   I'm producing a feature documentary on the life of Jose Sarria, the first openly gay man to run for public office in 1961.    Jose was not only a pioneer leader in the LGBT community, he was one of my closest friends. The 90-minute documentary revolves around personal footage I shot of Jose spanning 23-years from 1992 to 2013. Although Jose was a trail blazer, he's not as celebrated as other pioneer activists such as Harvey Milk and Harry Hay. My goal is to help preserve Jose's legacy and shed some light on this remarkable WW II veteran's major accomplishments.   Who Was Jose Sarria? From 1951-1963, Jose stood in bright red heels on table tops at the Black Cat Café in San Francisco to sing torch songs accompanied by a honky-tonk piano. The diva performed one man opera parodies, replacing the straight love story with a gay one.  Whenever the vice squad entered the café to entrap patrons, Jose exposed them by forcing his closeted customers to stand up and sing “God, Save Us Nelly Queens,” a takeoff on Britain’s national anthem as the vice retreated shamefully out of the café. When San Francisco city officials vowed to shut down all the gay bars in 1961, Jose threw caution to the wind and campaigned for a seat on the Board of Supervisors. Jose lost the election, but garnered nearly 6,000 votes, proving for the first time in American politics that the LGBTQ community had a voting bloc.   Jose also started the first gay non-profit and in 1965, founded the Imperial Court System, the second largest LGBT organization in the country with 70 chapters that has rasied millions of dollars for AIDS and other charities.   Nelly Queen is not just an LGBT history lesson; it’s a triumphant story of the human spirit, a hero’s journey of fighting unjust laws  and uniting a fractured community. Jose stands as a role model to people still struggling with their sexual identity and self-esteem.   Jose passed away in 2013 at the age of 90 and it was his wish to have a movie made about his life. I hope you can help me in preserving Joes's legacy with this film. No amount is too small to give.   Please go to to the Indiegogo page to see, read and hear more about Jose and the documentary.   Sincerely,  Joe Castel Executive Producer   learn about Jose Sarria and our documentary film » Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook | Forward to Friend  Copyright © *2015* *Emperor Norton Productions* All rights reserved. www.nellyqueenfilm.com Our mailing address is: Emperor Norton Productions · 2450 E. Del Mar Blvd #18 · Pasadena, CA 91107 · USA unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

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Time Is Running Out For "Nelly Queen"

Use this area to offer a short teaser of your email's content. Text here will show in the preview area of some email clients. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Nelly Queen Needs Your Contribution!   Time Is Running Out 11 days left! Please help us preserve our history and reclaim Jose’s rightful place in the LGBTQ pantheon of heroes and in our school’s curriculum. Please contribute and share with friends, colleagues, members of your organizations and community. Make your tax deductible contribution today. Click here or on one of the pictures for the link.       Join The National LGBTQ Task Force, The International Court System and From the Heart Productions and support the making of this film. Every little bit helps. Peace - Dante Alencastre, Director 310 661 0388 learn about Jose Sarria and our documentary film » Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook | Forward to Friend  Copyright © *2015* *Emperor Norton Productions* All rights reserved. www.nellyqueenfilm.com Our mailing address is: Emperor Norton Productions · 2450 E. Del Mar Blvd #18 · Pasadena, CA 91107 · USA unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

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Nelly Queen: Crowd Funding Campaign

March 8, 2015 A Feature Documentary Film by Dante Alencastre  Greetings, I would like to share the news about my documentary feature film, “Nelly Queen: The Life and Times of Jose Sarria”. Jose Sarria was a pioneer civil-rights leader who ran for political office as an open gay man in 1961. As a Queer Latino Filmmaker and Activist, it is my goal to bring his largely unknown achievements and story to the big screen. I believe that his defiance of the oppression of his times and his unabashed embrace of gender identity, makes his story relevant and resonant to our present LGBTQ community.   Please help us preserve our history and reclaim Jose’s rightful place in the LGBTQ pantheon of heroes and in our school’s curriculum. Follow the link below for information. Please contribute and share with friends, colleagues and community.   Join The National LGBTQ Task Force, The International Court System and From the Heart Productions and support the making of this film. Every little bit helps. Peace - Dante Alencastre, producer/director 310 661 0388 Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward this to a Friend Copyright © *2015* *Emperor Norton Productions* All rights reserved. www.nellyqueenfilm.com   Update Subscription Preferences Unsubscribe Now

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Photo © Daniel Nicoletta

15 days left to meet our $15,000 funding goal

15 days are left to meet our goal. We've raised $3,020 of our $15,000 goal. If you've made a contribution, forward this link to your friends and tell them about our documentary film, "Nelly Queen: The Life and Times of Jose Sarria", which captures the life of LGBT pioneer Jose Sarria, the first openly Gay Man to run for office! Let's build this film together and remember those who fought for our LGBT community. 

Why is Jose Important Now?

Why is Jose Important Now?

Jose is important today as he was back in 1961 when he ran for office. Nelly Queenis not just an LGBT history lesson; it’s a triumphant story of the human spirit, a hero’s journey of a man fighting unjust laws and uniting a fractured community. Jose stands as a courageous role model to people still struggling with their sexual identity and self-esteem.