by Hillary Sells

After running away from home at the age of 16, Sylvester found his spiritual home when he moved to San Francisco. He began performing in drag in a Chinatown nightclub underthe name Ruby Blue. He was then invited to join an experimental theatre troupe known as the Cockettes, which featured trans performers and outrageous satire. 

 

The Cockettes recruited Sylvester for his incredible vocal skills, hoping that he could instill in the group some of the power from it. In turn, the group unleased Sylvester's creativity. His fashion sense and confidence grew, in which he'd dress elaborately in gowns, headdresses, and feather boas, and also began to give solo performaces. 

 

Sylvester's time with the Coquettes was evidence that lead to the bigger picture of who Sylvester was going to be. They saw the spark in him, just as the church had done, and by helping him grow more confident Sylvester was on his way.