International Court Council

Stuart Milk

L. Stuart Milk, is a civil rights activist and nephew of slain SF Supervisor and LGBT rights pioneer Harvey Milk.

STUART MILK has been a human rights advocate. a youth advocate, and a leader in workforce development for nearly two decades and spends as much as 40 weeks a year in all 50 states and several foreign countries addressing critical workforce needs as he consistently strives to bring both equality, recognition, increased funding and dedicated assistance services to a broad range of disenfranchised communities. Most recently Stuart has much greater success in achieving these goals for LGBTQ youth organizations in the United States and abroad.

Stuart recently joined San Francisco elected officials along with San Francisco business and community stakeholders to design and implement a targeted Transgender employment and training program that now serves as a model in the U.S. and globally. This LGBTQ targeted outreach program has quickly spread across the Pacific where Stuart worked on the replication, implementation and funding with Sydney Australia Lord Mayor Clover Moore and openly gay Australia Councilor Philip Black and established similar replication Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Mr. Milk serves on the Board of two U.S. National Workforce Associations and lectures on diversity and culture issues in the workplace to national and international audiences. Stuart also sits on numerous advisory and honorary boards of global LGBT organizations where he takes an active role in promoting and communicating important “life affirming messages” for the LGBTQ community. Stuart has engaged with U.S. policy makers on the LGBT community’s collective push for full equality and he a is frequent public speaker along side local, community and state leaders from Sacramento California to Manchester New Hampshire as well addresses with U.S. Federal lawmakers from New York Congressmen Steve Israel and Congressman Timothy Bishop to the Chair of the US Congressional Black Caucus Congresswoman Barbara Lee to any number of events with the US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

Stuart was 17 when his uncle, Harvey Milk was assassinated in San Francisco and he credits his frequent conversations with Harvey with both his passion for public service and his ongoing work for equality and justice for all Americans. In the past year alone, Stuart will have traveled to 19 states and 11 foreign countries to speak at public rallies, policy forums, at universities and at funding events for civil rights or community organizations, always as an unpaid volunteer and around or in conjunction with his full time job on workforce and youth advocacy. The diversity of his civil rights audiences are as broad as Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government (where he spoke this year at the schools first ever civil rights panel on LGBT issues) to the large civil rights rallies in ever held in any number of state capitals.

For several years, Stuart has served in an official capacity in national and international LGBT events and panels including this year in Madrid- Spain, Hong Kong and Istanbul- Turkey to Grand Marshal Stints at San Francisco Pride to the LGBT Mardi Gras in Sydney Australia. Although a US resident, he is particularly moved by the struggle of the global LGBT community –all of the LGBT activists, leaders, organizations, volunteers and business associations – and he stands proudly with each and every one of them in our yearning for inclusion and work toward equality. His address in 2003 at the University of San Francisco can be seen on the extras DVD of the Times of Harvey Milk and Stuart’s relationship with his Uncle and his own activism is currently being portrayed in the new award winning play “Dear Harvey” by Patricia Loughrey commissioned by the Diversionary Theater in San Diego and now showing on Community Stages and at Universities and Colleges throughout North America.

Mr. Milk has recently addressed major Human Rights events in Central and Latin America, Australia, and throughout Europe. In June, Stuart and German MP Mechthild Rawert worked together in Turkey to bring for the first time ever three Turkish MPs’ to Istanbul’s Pride Event and then successfully negotiated the removal of heavily armored police barricades to peacefully allow the LGBT parade to proceed.

Stuart is the recipient of over a dozen awards and proclamations for his own work, activism and example in continuing the leadership and pioneering spirit of his uncle. Last month in Madrid, Stuart was the recipient of the annual National Spanish award for Cultural Authenticity (Muestra la cultural Authenticdad Especiale) from the President of Spain “for his inspiring volunteer work throughout the world on behalf of the LGBT community”. Stuart frequently accepts posthumous awards on behalf of his Uncle, including both this years Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama at the White House and Harvey Milk’s induction into the California Hall of Fame from Maria Shriver.

Having been the Milk family spokesman for the last two decades, Stuart considers it both an honor and a responsibility to further his Uncle’s example of full authenticity by proudly and openly talking about his “less then equal” legal status in the US and around the world as a out and proud member of the LGBTQ community while at the same time providing a message of hope and inclusion for all who still struggle for unqualified freedom.

2010 Jose Honors

2010 Jose Honors Board of Governors

Empress Nicole the Great, Founder, Jose Honors
Empress Coco LaChine, President, Jose Honors

Members of the 2010 Josē Honors Board of Governors
Empress Sydney Andrews – Denver, CO
Empress Jaylene Tyme – Vancouver, BC
Empress Remy Martin - San Francisco, CA
Emperor Michael D Lyons – Omaha, NB
Empress Julie Walker – Dallas TX
Emperor Frank Schreckengberger – Portland, OR
Empress Marni Gras – Edmonton, ALB

The Jose Honors was founded in 1997 by Empress Nicole the Great, as a tribute to Empress Jose and to ensure that her legacy lives on for a very long time. This is the highest award given to members of the International Courts System for outstanding accomplishments within the Courts System and in the larger community they live in. Each year, the Jose Honors also recognizes an individual member Court for outstanding service.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the recipients of the 2010 Jose Honors.

Emperor Gabriel Della Notte,
New York NY

Emperor X Gabriel Della Notte aka Gary Cosgrove was born in New Jersey. A graduate of Rowan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education, Gary oversaw several youth recreation programs in the town he grew up in Wood-Ridge from 1978 to 1983. In 1983 Gary was elected to the Wood-Ridge Town Council. At age 24...

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Empress Joan-E,
Vancouver BC

JOAN-E (Robert Kaiser) was born in Calgary, Alberta and moved to Vancouver, British Columbia at the age of 19. Over the years, Joan-E has earned various titles including Entertainer of the Year, Imperial Crowned Princess XXII, six-time Minister of Protocol, and Empress XXVIII of Vancouver and All of British Columbia. She has served as the Master of Ceremonies for various community events including Art for Life (Vancouver Friends for Life Society), Davie Days...

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Grand Duke Fred Townson,
San Francisco Ducal CA

Fred spent his younger years growing up on the plains of New Mexico. From schooling, working, musical and drama activities, he learned early about involvement and commitment. Fred was also a competitive roller skater, skating out of the Texas region...

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Empress The Lovely Suzanne,
Portland OR

Born in France, in a not too glamourous Army hospital, The Lovely Suzanne has lived all over the United States. She first moved to the Northwest in 1971, and in the late eighties, made it her permanent home. As a waitress at the legendary Quality Pie Restaurant, Suzanne became a camp fixture in the diner drag scene...

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Empress Mz. Rhonda del ray Rockafella,
Calgary ALB

Mz. Rhonda began her life as Ron Cardy in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ron grew up during The Troubles, but he was strengthened by his deep religious beliefs and his close family ties...

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Court of Distinction –
Imperial Court of Nebraska

While chatting over a cup of coffee in Lincoln, Nebraska, a group of gentlemen began discussion of forming a group who would educate and support GLBT causes throughout the state. After many long hours of pencil pushing and comparing notes, the Imperial Court of Nebraska was established on July 15, 1980.

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Empress Nicole the Great Empress I Jose, the Widow Norton
Queen Mother of the Americas Founder, International Court System

The 2010 Jose Honors will be presented at the International Court System’s
45th Anniversary Gala, June 5th in Lexington, Kentucky.

“45 Nobles” and “Royal Couples” to be Honored

The International Court System is one of the oldest GLBT organizations in the world with over 67 chapters in the United States, Canada and Mexico. We have raised millions of dollars for various charities, brought awareness and educate the public on important issues confronting the GLBT communities. Our Emperor and Empresses, Dukes and Duchesses, Baron and Baroness, have represented our Courts with great style, panache and a sense of humor. But we all know that our riches assets are our members, the hardworking and loyal courtiers that make our organization thrive and continue to succeed.
It is with this in mind that Empress Nicole the Great, Queen Mother of the Americas, wanted to recognize these unsung heroes by honoring “45 Nobles” at the 45th Anniversary Gala - members who are happy to work in the background and may not have the desire to be a Monarch. All nominees must be current active members of a recognized Court, and may not be a past or present Monarch.

As part of our quest for equality, it is also important for us to recognize our relationships. Therefore, the International Court Council will also be honoring ten “Royal Couples of the Decades” at the 45th Anniversary Gala. The prestigious recognition honor Couples who have been together for at least 20 years, and is open to all current active members of a recognized Court, including Monarchs.

These two categories of recognition are not a competition and are not meant to be a “Top 10” or “Best of” list. Rather, it is our wish to honor a diverse cross section of our court community. Therefore, the selection will not be based simply on the number of year’s involvement, but rather something unique about the individual or couple, and their involvement with the court system.
Any member of the International Court System may submit a nomination. We especially welcome Board nominations for either category.

All Nomination must include

Nominee Name & Title:
Address:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Name of person making nomination/Phone Number/Email Address
Short Bio (approx 750 words) in third person prose format.
- 45 Nobles” Information might include number of years membership, type of involvement, unique contribution for the advancement of the court system.
- “Royal Couples” Information might include number of years together (minimum of 20 years), court involvement, unique family/relationship.
Photo (Jpeg format) – Please do not embed photo, contact info and bio in one image file.
Please email you nomination in word document and separate photo in jpeg format to coco@c1r.com, no later than Friday, March 12, 2010.

Special Guest

Judy Shepard

In October 1998, Judy and Dennis Shepard lost their 21 year-old son, Matthew, to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. Matthew’s death moved many thousands of people around the world to attend vigils and rallies in his memory. Determined to prevent others from suffering their son’s fate, Judy and Dennis decided to turn their grief into action and established the Matthew Shepard Foundation to carry on Matthew’s legacy. The Foundation is dedicated to working toward the causes championed by Matthew during his life: social justice, diversity awareness & education, and equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Judy Shepard is the founding president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Board of Directors, and served as its first executive director as well, from 1999 to 2009. In her continuing role as board president, she travels across the nation speaking to audiences about what they can do as individuals and communities to make this world a more accepting place for everyone, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, or sexual orientation. Speaking from a mother’s perspective, Judy also authored a 2009 memoir, “The Meaning of Matthew,” exploring the family’s journey through the prosecution of Matthew’s assailants, the ensuing media coverage and their continuing work to advance civil rights. She and Dennis continue to make their home in Casper, Wyoming.