Release Year: 2011
Synopsis:
In Gene Wang’s 2011 documentary Tenderloin: A Forgotten History, the filmmaker delves into a crucial yet often overlooked chapter of San Francisco’s LGBTQ history. The documentary explores the role that the Tenderloin district played in shaping the local LGBTQ community during the 1960s and 1970s.
Through the stories of the people who lived and thrived in this urban enclave, Wang highlights how the Tenderloin became a refuge, a battleground, and a birthplace for many of the ideas and movements that would later influence the national LGBTQ rights movement. Central to this narrative is the story of Felicia Elizondo, a transgender woman whose life not only intersects with the Tenderloin's history but also embodies the resilience and activism that defined the district during a time of great social upheaval.
Felicia Elizondo, known by her stage name Felicia Flames, was not only an iconic drag performer but also a tireless activist whose personal journey paralleled the changing tides of LGBTQ rights and visibility. She was born in 1946 in San Angelo, Texas, assigned male at birth, but from a young age, she knew she was different. Her early life was marked by bullying, molestation, and deep struggles with her gender identity. When she was just five years old, Elizondo realized that her sense of self did not align with the expectations placed on her by society. Her father, a sheepherder, died when she was only three, and this early loss deepened her sense of isolation.
In her teens, Elizondo moved to San Jose, California, and began frequenting the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, which was then home to a vibrant, though marginalized, LGBTQ community. The Tenderloin, with its eclectic mix of immigrants, artists, sex workers, and other outsiders, became an unlikely sanctuary for many people who, like Elizondo, found themselves on the fringes of mainstream society. The district’s notorious reputation for crime and poverty masked the deep sense of solidarity that existed among its residents, especially in the LGBTQ community. It was here that Elizondo found her footing and began to explore her identity more freely.
However, the 1960s were a time of both heightened visibility and repression for LGBTQ individuals. In 1965, Elizondo enlisted in the U.S. Navy, hoping that the military would either “make her a man” or force her to confront her gender identity. After serving in Vietnam for six months, she realized that the military would not provide the answers she sought. In a bold act of defiance, she confessed to being gay, leading to an FBI interrogation and a dishonorable discharge. It was a devastating blow, but Elizondo’s tenacity would see her eventually succeed in changing her discharge status to honorable. This early experience of rejection and marginalization shaped her resolve to fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
It was also during this time that Elizondo began frequenting Gene Compton’s Cafeteria in the Tenderloin, a gathering place for drag queens, trans women, hustlers, and other LGBTQ individuals. In 1966, Compton’s Cafeteria became the site of one of the earliest LGBTQ uprisings in the United States, predating the Stonewall Riots by three years. The Compton’s Cafeteria Riots were a response to constant harassment and mistreatment by the police, culminating in a night of rebellion in which transgender women, drag queens, and queer people fought back against the oppressive forces that had long marginalized them. Elizondo was a regular at the café, and although she was not directly involved in the riots, the event became a defining moment in her life. The riots marked a turning point for the LGBTQ community, leading to greater visibility and activism, and shaping the trajectory of Elizondo’s future.
In 1974, Elizondo transitioned to live as a woman, adopting the name Felicia Flames. She became a well-known drag performer in the Tenderloin, performing at various bars and clubs, often for charity events. In addition to her performances, she worked at various jobs, including as a long-distance operator, nurse’s aide, and receptionist. At times, she also worked as a sex worker, a common way for many transgender women, especially women of color, to survive in the pre-AIDS era. Despite the hardship, Elizondo’s transition and her performances gave her a sense of identity and pride, and she quickly became a beloved figure in the San Francisco LGBTQ community.
Felicia’s life took another turn in 1987, when she was diagnosed as HIV positive. At the time, the AIDS epidemic was wreaking havoc in the LGBTQ community, and Elizondo, like many others, found herself on the front lines of the crisis. She became an active fundraiser for AIDS organizations, working with groups such as the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Shanti Project, and P.A.W.S. Her work was deeply personal, as she lost many of her friends and peers to the virus. She also contributed to the AIDS Memorial Quilt and helped raise funds for other essential services for people living with HIV.
Beyond her work with AIDS-related organizations, Elizondo became a vocal advocate for the rights of transgender people, especially transgender women of color, who were often excluded from mainstream LGBTQ movements. As a Latina transgender woman, Elizondo was particularly attuned to issues of racism and discrimination within both the gay and transgender communities. She worked tirelessly to bridge gaps and build solidarity between different groups, all while continuing her drag performances and charitable work.
In the 1990s, Elizondo moved to San Francisco permanently, where she continued to be an active participant in the city’s LGBTQ community. She worked with local politicians like Supervisor Jane Kim to commemorate and honor the legacies of drag performers and transgender individuals who had shaped the city’s history. In 2014, she helped push for the renaming of the 100 block of Turk Street to “Vicki Mar Lane,” in honor of her late friend, drag performer Vicki Marlane. Two years later, Elizondo was instrumental in the renaming of the 100 block of Taylor Street to “Gene Compton’s Cafeteria Way,” marking the historical significance of the Compton’s Cafeteria riots.
Elizondo’s contributions were recognized widely, and in 2015, she was named the grand marshal of the San Francisco Pride Parade, receiving a lifetime achievement award for her decades of advocacy. She had become a living legend, not only as a pioneering drag performer but also as a symbol of survival, activism, and solidarity. She had lived through decades of personal and collective struggle—through the early days of the LGBTQ rights movement, the AIDS crisis, and the battle for transgender rights.
However, like many seniors, Elizondo faced the realities of aging alone. Despite the deep love and admiration she received from the community, she remained without a partner as she grew older. Her website, which she maintained until her death, became an educational resource for younger generations, chronicling her struggles, triumphs, and experiences across the decades. It was a reminder of the long history of transgender and LGBTQ activism, especially from those who were often relegated to the margins.
Felicia Elizondo passed away on May 15, 2021, at the age of 74. Her death marked the end of a remarkable life that had spanned the most transformative decades in LGBTQ history. Elizondo was a pioneer, a diva, an icon, and, above all, a legend whose work and legacy continue to inspire activists, performers, and allies to this day. Her story, along with the stories of others like her, is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of community in the face of adversity. Through her activism, performances, and unwavering dedication to her cause, Elizondo helped ensure that the history of the Tenderloin district—and the people who made it what it was—would never be forgotten.
My interview with Felicia Flames: Heroines of My Life
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