There are also examples of artifacts relating to drag queens on exhibit in the uptight US. The Oakland Museum of California has an extensive collection of costume, program and photographic material from Jose Sarria who began performing drag operas in San Francisco at the Black Cat Cafe in the 1950s. One of the costumes is on display along with more recent material from gay rights groups (buttons, t-shirt, poster). Jose Sarria is also one of the featured Californians you can meet though video interviews on touch screen computers in the gallery. His story about escaping the Midwest and coming to California is funny and wonderful and truly captivating. This is not a story told in isolation but rather one of the stories told in the context of the diversity of people who call California home. It is just possible that the San Francisco Bay Area, the home of the OMC, is not really part of the US (local conceit would have it so) but I bet there are more examples out there in other parts of the US as well. Deborah Cooper Oakland Museum of California