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WELCOME TO
THE IMPERIAL SOVEREIGN COURT OF SPOKANE

The History starts in the 1940's as Jose Julio Sarria entered gay history
when he began to cover for his then boyfriend Jimmy, a waiter at the
Black Cat Bar on Montgomery Street in San Francisco. In Post WW II, an
influx of gay and lesbian discharged veterans was swelling in the city's
gay communities. While the Castro was still a primarily Hetero, blue
collar neighborhood, the Black Cat had already developed an
international reputation as a gay meeting place. One Day, while Jose
was serving drinks and the pianist was playing Bizet's "Carmen", Sarria
began to sing arias to the opera. Soon, he became a big hit and his
reputation was born. Here is a general bibliography of JOSE SARRIA;
Pioneering GLBTQ social activist and founder of the Royal Court System (RCS),
recently renamed the International Court System (ICS). Also know as “Her
Royal Majesty, Empress José the First” and “The Widow Norton.”
José Sarria was born December 12th, 1923 and raised in San Francisco, CA. His
mother, Maria Dolores, and father, Julio Sarria, were Latino/a immigrants.
José served in the Army from 1942 to 1947. He was trained as a cook at Fort
Ord and spent two years in Berlin at the end of World War II as a personal
attaché to a colonel. He was discharged in 1947 but stayed in the Reserves
until his mid-thirties. After leaving the Army, José returned to San Francisco
and shortly thereafter became employed at the Black Cat Cafe as first a
cocktail waiter, then a social hostess, and eventually as a female
impersonator (and bar icon) doing parodies of operas. While not a gay bar in
a contemporary sense, the Black Cat was a widely know as a bohemian type
hangout where people with apparently different sexual sensibilities were
accepted and often admired. José very much considered the Black Cat a place
where he could be himself, had an agreement with the owner that he would
only perform there (exceptions were made for charitable events), and would
work there from 1947 until it lost liquor license and closed in 1964.
   Rejecting what he saw as a secretive focus to the Mattachine Society, José
and his friends created the League for Civil Education in 1960. It was a grass
roots civil rights group that set out to educate both gay and straight people
about police raids and to provide emergency funds to those being
discriminated against. As a founding member of this group, and in response
to continued efforts to revoke the Black Cat’s liquor license and the
harassment of other gay owned businesses, José became the first openly gay
candidate for an elected office in the United States. In 1961 he ran for a seat
on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. José lost the election and it would
not be until 1977 that an openly gay individual (Harvey Milk) would finally
win a seat on the board.
In 1963 the group split over internal conflicts and José helped found a new
group called the Society for Individual Rights (SIR). Monies for the SIR ware
largely raised from staging drag shows, such as the “Celebritycapades,” with
these funds often being used to help people having legal problems. Both the
educational and the charitable foci of these groups would become important
aspects of the RCS José would found just a few years later.
In 1964, The Tavern Guild, an association of gay bars, at their annual Beaux
Arts Ball held every Halloween conferred upon José the honorary title of
“Queen of the Ball.” Apparently the title was not regal enough for him—after
all, being a queen in this context was somewhat common—so he declared
himself, “Empress José the First.” This would become the Royal Court Systems
first official position. To further support his status of empress, and reflecting
the importance of camp in the RCS/ICS, José added the subtitle of “The Widow
Norton.” Joshua Norton lived in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. Once a
prominent merchant in the community, he had fallen on economic hard times
and began referring to himself as, “Joshua Norton the First, Emperor of North
America and Protector of Mexico.” Whereas many cities would have ignored
his proclamation, the media and the leaders and citizens of San Francisco
found him quite amusing and literally treated him like royalty with him
receiving free meals wherever he went and a yearly clothing stipend from the
city. Emperor Norton died around the turn of the century and was buried in
Woodlawn cemetery. José , the loving Widow Norton, holds an annual
memorial service for his departed husband every year. Beginning in the early
1980’s, the annual service became a more somber event and also started to be
memorial for all those lost to AIDS in the court community.
The Royal Court System was officially founded in 1965 and represents one of
the oldest GLBTQ groups in the world still in existence. Today ICS is made up
65 local chapters called courts (57) and baronies (8). Positions in these local
chapters, and throughout the court system, are designated by campy titles
such as empress, emperor, princess, prince, duchess and duke. Titleholders
are expected to dress their gendered parts replete with typically regal attire
and appropriate accouterments (e.g., tiaras, scepters, gowns, tuxedos).   With
a few notable exceptions, most female titles are held by gay drag queens
while male titles are held by both gay men and lesbian women. Those holding
the female titles, especially that of empress, often are the most powerful
individuals and promoted as the leaders of the given court. While lesbian
women have traditionally participated in the court in much smaller numbers
than gay men, many gay court members have died from AIDS over the past
fifteen years, and lesbians today seem to be taking on a more prominent role
in some of the courts.
Consistent with its beginnings, each court serves as a charitable organization
for those in need in the community (both gay and straight). Today, many of
the monies raised go towards various organizations associated with AIDS.
Drags shows are the primary place where money is collected (often a single
dollar at a time) given to the performers while on stage. The ICS raises
millions of dollars each year and is one of the most successful charities in many
communities (gay and straight). In spite of the frequent rejection of drag
queens by more conservative members of various gay and lesbian
communities, the ISC has served as a vitally important lifeline to many GLBTQ
people in cities throughout North America and now Great Britain. José’s
legacy in the ISC will live on long after he passes away.

In the 1950's Gay men and women were arrested on a number of
charges used to keep homosexuals in the closet and hidden. Against this
oppression, Jose would change the lyrics of his arias to warn people of
the entrapment practices of the police first coining the phrase "There is
nothing wrong with being Gay, the crime is getting caught" and "United
we stand, Divided they get us one by one".

Police pressures, entrapment schemes, and raids continued in the 50's
when the gay bars developed an association to spread warnings about
the oppression. In 1961, Jose became the very first openly gay candidate
to run for public office, seeking the position as city supervisor, a position
held 16 years later by an openly gay Harvey Milk. Although Sarria did
not win in 1961, he did garner an impressive 5,600 votes and sparked a
change in the voting laws allowing for votes by ward, not city wide.
This allowed for minority candidates to win election, hence the arrival
of Harvey Milk in 1977.

In early 1965, Sarria and various gay bar owners put on the first "Drag
Ball" of which Sarria was named "Queen of the Ball". At this, "she"
exclaimed "Why be a QUEEN when I can be an EMPRESS?". So he
proclaimed himself Empress of San Francisco. To further enhance the
title, he drew upon the legend of Emperor Norton, the eccentric 19th
century San Francisco miner and rice baron. During his lifetime, he
dressed finely and proclaimed himself Emperor of the USA and Canada
and protector of Mexico. Heir in spirit and not by law, Jose proclaimed
himself "The Widow Norton" and began annual pilgrimages to Norton's
grave in nearby Colma where he and accompanying drag queens would
pay their respects with flowers to Sarria's departed "spouse". This
tradition continues to this day. Eventually the "Ball" , now changed to
"Coronation", sparked an annual event marking the election of Empress
and Emperor. Jose developed bylaws and functions of the Imperial
Court of San Francisco, a group that sought, through drag shows and
other functions, to raise monies for gay charities. By the early 70's, the
Court System established by Sarria has been franchised to first
Vancouver BC, and then Portland, and eventually Seattle, Tacoma,
Bellingham, Everett, Vancouver and Spokane. Over the next 30 years,
individual courts, under the guidance of Widow Norton, "Mama" as she
is called, have spread to over 70 areas, some cities, some entire states.
While the courts avoid, by ruling, partisan politics, they funnel
thousands and thousands of dollars into community charities, as a strong
grassroots organization interlinked by monarchs attending the annual
coronation balls of other courts and now expanding to the Internet.
Jose will remain active, but has recently descended the throne (See
Below) & still resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is truly a hero
and role model for all of us. For more information about International
Affiliates, please go to WWW.IMPCOURT.ORG

As of February 2007 -   I thus proclaim that the line of succession to
Empress I Jose and ALL its heirs is being retired and will no longer exist
because my succession is being fulfilled by Empress Nicole the Great. No
past heir to me can ever use or be announced with their former title or
position after 17 February 2007. It can only be announced at her or his
state funeral or at mine.   Furthermore, Empress Nicole the Great will
now name new heirs and create new council. As Empress Nicole the
Great assumes my duties, obligations and authority as the titular
leader and Queen Mother of these three great nations, she is to be
accorded all the rights and respect that she has earned in her over 35
years of serving our court system and fighting for the equality of all
people. I look forward to seeing all my children in Seattle on 17
February 2007 and to the continued growth and success of the
International Court System
I remain yours forever,
Mama Empress I Jose, The Widow Norton Founder, International Court
System

**** Official Statement ****
Empress Nicole the Great
President, International Court Council
*U.S.A. * Canada * Mexico
Queen Mother of the Americas

As our International Court System is about to begin another era of
service and noble deeds, our beloved founder, Empress I Jose, The
Widow Norton, in all her wisdom, has felt it is time to pass on the
leadership to a new generation so that we can together take this
international organization into its proper place in this, the 21st Century.
My noble sisters and brothers, it is time for changes and a new
beginning. I thus proclaim this next decade one of a true "Renaissance"
period that all are invited to participate and give voice to. The final
decree of Empress I Jose retiring all her heirs and passing on all her
"duties, obligations and authority" to me is indeed a big responsibility
which I take with the utmost of humility. After consultation with our
Council's corporate attorney and legal advisors, I thus officially
announce that the current Council and officers are to continue for 30
days in an "interim position" as we go through this transition. I further
decree that upon my formal resignation as President of the
International Council, an interim President will be elected in Seattle. I
hope within 30 days to name a new line of succession and heirs that will
reflect the true diversity of our GLBT community.   The fact that there is
not one lesbian or transsexual on our current Council is totally
unacceptable to me. And, that there is a lack of younger members of a
different generation and only one African-American is also of concern.
During my stay in Seattle, I will meet privately with the current Council
members and heirs to evaluate their record and productive
involvement on the Council...or the lack there of. Empress Panzi of New
York will be contacting each Council member to arrange a "private tea
with the Queen" at my suite. Communication and information is one of
the greatest voids within this council and organization, thus I am
announcing the appointment of Empress Christy of Texas as the
Council's interim corresponding secretary. And, from this day forth, all
courts will receive the minutes of every International Court Council
meeting. I am also reestablishing the "International Court Communiqué"
and have appointed Emperor Chris Horton as its Editor-in-Chief. Our
International Court's web page must also be greatly improved. As
Queen Mother of the Americas, I am establishing an Imperial Cabinet
with Ministers to advise and assist me. Thus, I have appointed well-
known corporate executive Emperor Rick Ford as the Prime Minister of
my Cabinet. I heard your voices, concerns and suggestions coming from
our First International Court Conference held in Palm Springs and
chaired by Emperor Larry of Reno. I have directed the conference's
facilitator, Mr. Russell Roybal of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
(NGLTF) to give an official report on the conference and he will be
flying in from Washington, D.C. to Seattle. I hope to announce another
conference this year with the theme International Court Conference II
Renaissance 2007. I wish to also extend my hand in loyalty and support
to the Courts of Canada who I have always felt are not always given
the recognition and respect that they so much deserve. This will change.
Let there be no mistake that Empress I Jose is our beloved founder and
most importantly an historic pioneer in our GLBT history and civil rights
movement and that she will always be treated with the greatest
respect and dignity. Any disrespect will be considered by me as a
personal affront. I consider it my duty to safeguard her legacy and
proper place in our GLBT history. In closing, I would especially like to
acknowledge and thank Empress Coco LaChine, Empress Milo, Empress
Jack-E, Emperor Kevin Drake, Empress Panzi and Empress Remy for
their advice and counsel as well as my Prime Minister, Emperor Rick
Ford. As we begin this new chapter in our court's history, I look forward
to this journey and ask each of you to not walk behind me or in front
of me, but walk beside me as we celebrate a new beginning in Seattle
as the official Renaissance Decade begins.   God bless you. Long live the
Monarchy. Long live Jose!
Empress Nicole the Great Queen Mother of the Americas

Contact info: Nicole Murray-Ramirez
P.O. Box 33915 San Diego, CA 92163
Email - Nicolemrsd@aol.com Ph - (619) 692-1967