The Cockettes: Taste of San Francisco Gay Culture

It was my absolute pleasure last night to watch The Cockettes with a friend here in San Francisco. Definitely, a must-see for anyone wishing to realize some of the rich history of the gay community here in the Bay Area as well as American counter-culture history.

Seeing the rise of Hibiscus through the KaliFlower Commune and the coming together of the souls involved with the development of The Cockettes, really hit home so many messages on numerous levels.

One of the most important was the drive these individuals had to live in San Francisco and to do anything possible to make that happen. Their story rather emulates my own drive and really necessity to move here irregardless as to how it will ultimately be accomplished.

Another absolutely startling portion of The Cockettes history, was my introduction to the counter-culture movement that existed here and really still exists here to this day. In the beginning of The Cockettes, it definitely was a group with the desire to create free theatre for the masses. Hibiscus was adamant about it being free to the point where he felt compelled to end his relationship with The Cockettes, starting his Angels of Light free theatre.

Ultimately, The Cockettes were a huge a success in the "safe" haven of the San Francisco community. When they were brought to New York City, the first performance was most definitely an unequivocal bomb. The clashing of West Coast culture with East Coast culture.

After returning to San Francisco from what The Cockettes didn't necessarily see as failure in NYC, death began hitting the group; first, from drug overdoses and ultimately devastated from what we now know as the HIV epidemic. It does bring tears to ones eyes after seeing how this group of individuals that were full of life and vitality began their journey as The Cockettes.

The Cockettes are definitely part of the history of the gay community, but also an important part of the history of the United States as well. Their rise and fall is oftentimes inspiring, bringing laughter and then tears as these wonderful lights upon the earth were put out. It truly is the story of individuals to be individual no matter what the cost or price, human or monetary.

The Cockettes is a story necessary to be heard by any fellow individual or member of the gay community. It is the story of the cycle of life; may their history be a source of inspiration to us all.

And you can Quote me on that. The Quotable Queer