Mayor Lurie Names Per Sia as San Francisco's Second Drag Laureate

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today named Per Sia as San Francisco’s second drag laureate. As drag laureate, Per Sia will serve as an ambassador for the Art of Drag performance, San Francisco's LGBTQ+ culture and community, and the city’s nightlife and entertainment scene. The San Francisco Drag Laureate position grew out of the city’s LGBTQ+ cultural heritage strategy, a community-driven effort to honor legacy, nurture well-being, promote economic opportunity, and ensure the longevity of San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community. 

“As San Francisco's Drag Laureate, Per Sia will lead the way for new representation that uplifts and highlights the storied drag history of our city and the significant contributions of the trans and entire LGBTQ+ community to San Francisco,” said Mayor Lurie. “Our city is known all over the world as a place where people are allowed to be who they want to be, love who they want to love, and live the lives they choose without fear of persecution. I look forward to working with Per Sia to support and celebrate our LGBTQ+ community.”  

“As a trans educator and drag performer, I’ve faced many challenges, but this city has given me the freedom to be fully myself,” said Per Sia. “Despite the chaos in the world, I promise to keep bringing joy, queer joy, all the joy, through drag and storytelling. I want to celebrate the drag community that has uplifted, inspired, and carried me. Can’t wait to get to work! Just wait and see!” 

Per Sia began performing drag in the Castro in 2007 and considers San Francisco the city that shaped who she is. She works as a teacher in a children’s after-school arts program at the San Francisco Unified School District’s Rooftop Elementary School. Per Sia is well known among children citywide as a founding member and active participant in Drag Story Hour, which happens in public libraries, schools, and museums throughout the city and the Bay Area. As a teacher, Per Sia integrates creativity, inclusivity, and community into daily learning. She was raised in Los Angeles and resides in the Mission District. 

“Per Sia’s selection as San Francisco's Drag Laureate is an incredible recognition of her transformative impact on our city’s LGBTQ+ community. As an educator, artist, and advocate, Per Sia has championed the power of storytelling and visibility, using drag as a platform for connection and empowerment. Her work bridges generations, fostering meaningful intergenerational relationships that ensure both younger and older members of the LGBTQ+ community feel seen, valued, and inspired,” said Vinny Eng, former CEO of Openhouse SF. “Per Sia’s artistry, dedication to inclusivity, and commitment to building stronger, more connected communities truly embody the spirit of San Francisco.” 

“It is thrilling that Per Sia will be San Francisco's next drag laureate. She has qualifications that far exceed what is necessary to represent drag within our LGBTQIA+ community,” said Juanita More!, San Francisco LGBTQ+ community advocate. “I am beyond proud of my Latina sister and look forward to supporting her adventures. And I would like to thank D'Arcy Drollinger for taking the lead. She did a fantastic job creating the drag laureate playbook.” 

“We are so delighted that CASA's resident queen and fabulous first grade teacher, Per Sia, is receiving this well-deserved honor,” said Leslie Einhorn, Founder and Executive Director of Children's After School Arts (CASA). “Per Sia has been enriching the lives of CASA kids and families since 2013. She brings her full self to work, leading by example as she celebrates each of her students in all of their intersectional glory. Per Sia is an integral part of CASA's mission to bring art, social justice, and social emotional wellness to San Francisco kids and families. Today, we celebrate Per Sia and bask in the sparkle of queer joy!”