There really shouldn’t be a question mark after that headline. It’s just a fact: Gloria Trevi, along with countless other 80s divas, has gone from washed up to incarcerated to fabulous, as was evidenced at this year’s San Francisco Pride celebration yesterday.

I watched in awe as Gloria rolled by in a convertible as one of the parade’s Celebrity Grand Marshals. At first I thought it was an imitator, but no, it was Gloria herself, writhing about, twisting and shimmying to dance music and waving to hundreds of thousands of people who probably had no idea who she was.

But she was on her way to the Latin Stage at the huge event that is held every year at San Francisco’s City Hall, and there her fame was wasted on no one. It was clear who every gay Latino male in the crowd was there to see, and it wasn’t some hard-bodied hunk (though those were certainly welcomed) but La Trevi, Mexico’s own answer to any focus of an E! True Hollywood Story. Outrageous, then tragic, now adored once again.

What is it about tragic female figures becoming gay icons? From Judy Garland, to Joan Crawford to La Trevi, it seems that there is a fascination with larger than life celebrities who have been to hell and back, or put others through hell.

Gloria rocked the crowd with tunes old and new, and I’m sure she indoctrinated a whole new generation of fans as well with her performance. Oh, and in addition to Gloria, another Mexican gay icon in-the-making: Fey apparently performed at Pride with Gloria. Last time I looked Fey was singing “Gatos en el Balcón” and “Media Naranja” for screaming pre-pubscent girls in Mexico, but now it seems she’s all grown up and pulling a Kylie Minogue — when all else fails, record a dance album and go for the gays. Her performance was presented by porn company Naked Sword…way to re-invent yourself, mi Fey!

Photo via Lito’s Flickr page