was sick and needed everyone's support, and then did her number. Over 2,000 people attended this performance. In February 1999, Lady Catiria received a farewell tribute at La Nueva Escuelita nightclub. She was unable to attend as she was recuperating from chemotherapy needed to fight Kaposi's sarcoma lesions that had developed in her lungs. She died due to complications of AIDS on May 3, 1999, and was buried in her native Puerto Rico. Lady Catiria was featured in a June 1999 article in POZ magazine, where she was portrayed as an inspiration to people living with HIV/AIDS. Legacy Numerous drag queens and transgender performers such as Candis Cayne, Angel Sheridan, and Mistress Maddie have credited Lady Catiria for her role as a mentor and friend. Candis Cayne, who went on to win the Miss Continental award, credits Lady Catiria for motivating her to participate in this pageant. The Puerto Rican actress Rosie Perez also described being a Lady Catiria fan and attending her show numerous times, after John Leguizamo took her to La Escuelita for the first time. Puerto Rican gay scholars such as Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes have written about Lady Catiria's importance in the gay New York City community. Others have paid tribute online. La Nueva Escuelita released a memorial VHS and DVD compilation of performances by Lady Catiria and has a prominently featured display case with her Miss Continental gown and crown. The nightclub also includes numerous photos of her on its website. Prizes Miss Continental Plus (1993–1994) Miss Continental (1995–1996) See also List of Puerto Ricans List of gay, lesbian or bisexual people Puerto Ricans in the United States References External links 1959 births 1999 deaths American drag queens People from Bayamón, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican LGBT actors Nightlife in New York City American people of Puerto Rican descent AIDS-related deaths in New York (state) Transgender actresses Transgender female models 20th-century American actresses Transgender drag performers Hispanic and Latino American drag queens 20th-century LGBT people