The marginalized groups who were patrons had had enough, and were ready to fight back against the police brutality that they'd endured for years. Black civil rights activists frequented the bar, and the black civil rights movement had sparked a national resistance that would be felt in those early morning hours at Stonewall. Most of the bar's patrons buzzed enthusiastically about creating a resistance. Rumors abounded that a routine raid was going to be eschewed in favor of mass arrests of patrons, and the permanent shut down of the establishment. On June 28th, 1969, Storme, who had often voluntarily served as a protector of others, was one of many Stonewall bar patrons who waited for the police to arrive. She often stood guard at lesbian bars, to protect the patrons inside, and prided herself as a protective "baby sitter" of young LGBT street kids. Storme became so influential on the circuit, that lesbian fans began dressing in suits and other 'male' attire in her honor.Īlong with serving as the show's host, Storme acted as a protector of the show's drag queen and transwomen performers, a role she extended to the community in general. Touring the black theater circuit, the revue became a great success, drawing in fans who themselves were superstars, including such luminaries as Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. Stome performed as the group's MC, wearing male drag (and appearing as a 'dandy') and singing in a robust baritone. Storme integrated the troupe, making it the first racially integrated drag revue in the country, and the group became known as "The Jewel Box Revue".
Initially agreeing to help the revue for six months, she ultimately remained with the troupe for six years. In 1946, while touring in Miami, Storme met Danny Brown and Doc Brenner, the proprietors of "Danny's Jewel Box", a drag revue. In the 1940's, Storme adopted the name “Stormy Dale”, and became a successful. For a period of time she worked in the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, riding jumping horses bareback (and side-saddle). At the age of 18, she realized she was a lesbian and she moved to Chicago, fearing she'd be killed if she remained in the south. As a teenager, her father sent her to a private school for her own physical safety. Bullied as a child by racists, one incident left her in a leg brace, and another with a deep scar (from being hung on a fence). Her parents were not issued a birth certificate, because interracial marriage was illegal (her mother was black, her father was white).
Storme Delarverie (pronounced De-la-vee-yay) was born in 1920 in New Orleans.
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