by the Queen Mother I of the Americas, Empress Nicole the Great

21 January 2012 – Houston, Texas

(for a PDF version of the address, CLICK HERE )

It is indeed my honor to be once again in the great state of Texas and the beautiful city of Houston. One of my first visits to your great state was in the early years of the establishment of the first chapter court in Texas ‐ Fort Worth… one of the most cherished honors that I value is being made an Honorary Texan by one of the best governors of any state… the late Governor Ann Richards…

Last night, I was once again deeply touched when Mayor Annise Parker of Houston stopped by the hotel to visit me… Mayor Parker had just arrived at Bush Intercontinental Airport back from the National US Conference of Mayors where she joined my mayor and the mayors of New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago in our nation’s capitol to launch Americans For Freedom To Marry – a campaign to end marriage discrimination.

Let me tell you all that Mayor Parker is not only the pride of Houston and the state of Texas but, indeed, the pride of All GLBT Americans.

On the subject of Pride… would all of the veterans with us tonight stand so we can acknowledge your service to our great country? This year, I have proclaimed 2012 as The Year of Our Servicemembers and Veterans encouraging all courts in Canada and the United States to reach out and support our active military personnel and veterans… who so many times are forgotten. Emperor George of San Antonio is the ICC Chairman of this year’s court campaign and is already doing an outstanding job. George is a Master Sergeant veteran of the United States Air Force.

I would like to sincerely thank the courts who supported and participated in our 2011 Year of Our Youth Campaign and the 68,000 Hours of Noble Deeds. Over two hundred thousand dollars – yes, two hundred thousand dollars – has been raised by you, our courts, that have benefited the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the Harvey Milk Foundation and The Trevor Project.

Over one hundred thousand hours of volunteer involvement by court members outside of our court duties has been recorded… Bravo to all of you who participated and a special thank you to Emperor Chad Hammer of Portland who came up with this concept and idea.

Thank you to co‐chairs Empress Donna Dumae of Dallas and Emperor Martin Storm of Surrey for your hard work on this most successful campaign.

If our court system is going to survive another forty‐seven years, it is time we all start mentoring, including and making outreach to our young people and adults… it is time to pass the torch to a new generation of leadership.

The 30 Under 30 Council has been established with a special thank you to Prince Kieron Keegan of St. Catharines whose idea this was… I met this afternoon with two outstanding members of the 30 Under 30 Council from Texas: 22‐year‐old Princess Alexandra Winters and 24‐year‐old The Lady Heather St. John, both of San Antonio’s court… stand up so we can acknowledge you and thank you for your activism and participation.

Our court system has over thirty‐five student scholarships within Canada, United States and Mexico… it was my honor to give a small contribution to the Mona Little Moore Scholarship of Austin which has raised five thousand dollars in just the last year… I urge all courts without student scholarship funds to establish one by the end of 2012.

In just two weeks, the city of Halifax in Canada will hold the Fifth Session of Her Majesty’s Parliament, “The People’s House”. While Parliament is going through some rough times… as they say, “Rome was not built in a day…” I have full confidence in the new Officers that will be coming from the Fifth Session of Parliament and I sincerely thank The Lady Ajax, Speaker of Her Majesty’s Parliament, for her four years of unselfish and inspiring leadership. I look forward to working with the new leadership of Parliament.

Our beloved Founder, World War II veteran and the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in America in 1961, José Julio Sarria recently celebrated her eighty‐eighth birthday… Our court system was founded in San Francisco and, in 2015, we will be joining the City By the Bay in marking the Fiftieth Anniversary of all of ours, our Mother and Founding Court, San Francisco and the beginning of our International Court System. During this difficult health time for Empress José, please all of you take the time to reach out to her. Also, to the Empress of Canada, ted northe, who has also been going through some difficult times. Both of these beloved queens are indeed historic and pioneering figures.

Next month in San Diego, during their Fortieth Anniversary weekend of February 10‐12, I will be celebrating the Fifth Anniversary of my coronation by José as your Queen Mother… It has been a most rewarding and hardworking five years for me… it has been my honor to serve you. Courtiers will be coming from all over Canada, United States and, yes, Mexico, to celebrate at the “Imperial State Dinner” and I invited you all to join us… but know on this occasion, I will be thinking of each and every one of you… for the five years many of you have, indeed, been the wind beneath my wings.

I am very proud to announce that the owners of the Stonewall Inn in New York City and the legendary Stonewall bartender Tree, who participated in the 1969 Stonewall Riots, will be at my Fifth Anniversary State Dinner where I will be proclaiming the historic Stonewall Inn the Imperial Palace of the Queen Mother I of the Americas and the International Court System of Canada, United States and Mexico.

We will also be presenting schools books on the life of Harvey Milk to a member of the School Board, representatives of the Gay Lesbian Straight Educators Network (GLSEN) and to Stuart Milk to take back to New York to donate these books to the school district Harvey Milk attended… these school books will be gifts from the International Court System.

I am pleased to announce that the five year history project of a documentary film on our International Court System by Patchwork Pictures will be finishing this year. Also, a photo exhibit by renowned photographer Karen Massing entitled The Royal Families of the Americas will go on exhibit at the Harvey Milk Library in San Francisco on from May 12 to September of this year. It is my hope that this historic exhibit, officially sponsored by the ICC will visit library archives and GLBT centers across Canada, United States and Mexico.

It has been my priority to preserve our history and thus I have named Emperor Daniel Surreal Fox of Reno and Emperor Falcon of Houston as our official archivists. For as I’ve said so many times: A community, yes, a court, that doesn’t know where it comes from, doesn’t know where it’s going.

In my first State of the Empire address in 2007, I proclaimed that my reign as your Queen Mother would be known as The Renaissance Era and my personal motto would be the strength of the Court’s past and the promise of its future. I promised you a more democratic monarchy and to give more structure when it comes to the ICC.

We have been very successful, yes, I say We, because any accomplishments could not have been made by me these last years without the support and leadership of my present and past Heirs Apparent. Would all my past Heirs Apparent please standing and wave so we can all acknowledge you.

One of the hallmarks of my administration has been a zero tolerance to any court’s misappropriations or embezzlement. We will continue to suspend Court Charters and recognition as I’ve done if these crimes are not reported and handled professionally.

I say to all our court’s treasurers, it is the community’s money… we are only the caretakers of this community raised money.

From this day forth, All, each and every court member, regardless of their rank or title who has stolen or misappropriated funds, I proclaim them within the court system persona non grata with all their titles, honors and membership stripped for life.

And now, hear me well… All court members have rights from Lords and Ladies to Monarchs. Thus, I issue this official proclamation, signed by my hand on this day, January 21, 2012 entitled Courtier’s Rights and Responsibilities…

Courtiers’ Rights and Responsibilities

Membership in the International Court System (ICS) and its associated chapter courts is a privilege. The ICS has a strict non‐discrimination policy and membership must not be denied on the basis of an individual’s belonging to any recognizable class or grouping of people.

It is the right of all Courtiers to be treated fairly and with respect, regardless of position or title. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of all Courtiers to treat their fellow Courtiers fairly and with respect. Courtiers have the responsibility to act with appropriate decorum when representing the Court and the Community.

Courtiers and community members have the right to transparency in the operations of their Court including publically available Bylaws and/or Process Manuals, as well as equitable access to the Board of Directors. Courts are encouraged to post this information on their website or other publically accessible forum. It is the responsibility of the Courtier to understand the information included in these documents and act in accordance with the same.

It is the responsibility of the Courtier to promptly submit any corporate funds to the member court (Corporation) on a timely basis. Courtiers or community members have the right to review any records of the Corporation, financial or otherwise upon request.

Courtiers and community members have a responsibility to report any wrongdoing witnessed within the Corporation to the appropriate authority (whistle‐blowing). It is the right of the Courtier or community member to report this wrongdoing without fear of reprisal from any representative of the Corporation if the act of whistle‐blowing is valid, factual and legitimate.

If any Courtier or community member feels that his/her rights are being violated, he/she has the right to seek counsel, intervention or arbitration from the International Court Council or the Head(s) of State of the ICS.

[signed by my hand as Successor to José & the Queen Mother I of the Americas – Empress Nicole the Great]

We have, indeed, accomplished a lot these last five years from holding summits, conferences – t he next women’s conference will be held in Texas in 2013 – to establishing new honors, recognitions and titles in appreciation of leadership and court activism.

We have, for the first time, signed Accords with major GLBT organizations in Canada and the United States.

An outstanding example of growing national recognition of our court system is the Advocate’s third annual survey of America’s Gayest Cities, the Top 15.

There were only nine points that each city could get, one point for having among them a GLBT elected official, one point for having a GLBT book store, one point for having a gay softball team and, yes, one point for having an Imperial Court chapter!

The placing of cities that had courts: #15 Denver, #14 Long Beach, #13 Austin, #12 Portland, #7 Minneapolis, #5 Seattle and #1 Salt Lake City! Among the honorable mentions” #24 Boston, #22 Eugene, #20 Salem, #18 San Francisco, #16 Washington, D.C.

The International Court System was also recognized on the floor of the US Congress with a special Congressional Resolution… one of the few GLBT organizations to be so honored.

And we are greatly responsible, all of you, for the official communication that the US Postal Service will soon consider issuing a US stamp in honor of Harvey Milk. It’s been because of you and your courts and let us even more continue to support the Harvey Milk Stamp Campaign.

In closing, I have always said during my reign that I, from the bottom of my heart, believe… all of you, every court, every court member, each of you in this room are doing God’s work. I take from the Bible, Matthew 25:35‐36

“For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”

“Yes, it has been said, “We make a living by what we get… We make a life by what we give…

So I most humbly thank you for giving this old queen the rarest gift of all… five years of your friendship, respect and support. My heart is indeed full.

God bless you all,

Empress Nicole the Great Queen Mother I of the Americas

NicoleMRSanDiego@aol.com

(619) 692‐1967

PO Box 33915, San Diego, CA 92163

2013 International Court System

State of the Empire Address

  It truly is my most sincere and deep honor to be in the great State of Washington and the beautiful City of Seattle. Giving my Seventh Annual State of the Empire address in Seattle brings special meaning for my message to all of you. The City of Seattle was founded in 1851and named after Native American Chief Sealth of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes. I say to all of you that we have learned much and must continue to learn from the example of the people of the 1st  Nations of Canada and Native Americans. 

In the 1970′s I had the honor of working with Harvey Milk as we Californians fought back the then Briggs Initiative California Proposition 6,  an effort to ban all gay and lesbian school teachers, and possibly anyone who supported gay rights, from working in California’s public schools. We in California, just as you in Washington along with other states and cities across this great nation of ours were fighting the anti-homosexual crusade of Anita Bryant.

In February 1979 I attended Seattle’s Coronation as this city and its fair-minded citizens celebrated victory having defeated the 1978 “initiative 13″ an effort to repeal employment and housing rights for all gays and lesbians.

Now I stand here once again and cheer BRAVO! Yes, indeed Bravo to all the citizens of Washington. You have made us all proud upholding Referendum 74 supporting marriage equality for all citizens. Thank you for this victory.

These are historic times for America. The GLBT community’s fight for equality is indeed the last remaining civil rights movement of the 21st century, and rest assured we will win this battle for full equality because we are on the right side of history.

Seven years ago our beloved Founder, World War II Veteran Jose Julio Sarria, on President’s Day weekend here in Seattle crowned me as her successor. I chose Seattle for this historic ceremony because of my great love for this city, my many long friendships with monarchs of the empire, and it’s strong ties to the imperial courts of Canada.

For we are indeed an international organization with over 68 chapters in cities across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.The great nation of Canada has always been ahead of the United States in its support of GLBT equality, marriage, the military and health care. Canadians have so much to be proud of. I know all Canadian courts join me in acknowledging a truly outstanding Canadian Empress who now holds the distinction of being honored and recognized by the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, ten years ago with a Golden Jubilee award and again last month with the Diamond Jubilee award: Empress Joan-E of Vancouver, British Columbia.

As I begin the eighth year of my reign as your Queen Mother I am proud to state that together we, the International Court System, have much to be proud of with almost 48 years of noble deeds that have benefitted so many…think about it, the international courts were established and helping build communities long before Stonewall.

So many of our courts have worked to build and establish community centers, pride parades. over 35 GLBT student scholarships endowed, countless  Food Banks and A.I.D.S. service agencies all of which were on the front lines during the early years of A.I.D.S.  In reality our beloved Founder Jose  was very much like Johnny Appleseed building this international organization from first a solid oak tree in San Francisco, and then taking and spreading the seeds of his dream across the United States, Canada and Mexico. I am proud to report that since Jose has passed the torch onto me as Queen Mother, and with your help, together we have raised over $200,000 for the Matthew Shepherd Foundation, the Trevor Project, and the Harvey Milk Foundation.

You the members and supporters of the International Court System launched and have spearheaded the ongoing campaign to commemorate a US Postage Stamp in honor of Harvey Milk. I am please to announce that Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has recently joined with our many other federal, state and local public officials both Democrats and Republicans in our historic campaign.  I am proud to state that it is my belief our goal could be accomplished this or next year.

You as well have launched the campaign to have the Secretary of the Navy  name a vessel after Navy Lt. Harvey MIlk which is gaining support each day.

Our great court system was an important part of the campaign to lift the United States travel ban against those affected by HIV-AIDS. We succeeded and the International Court System was recognized by a member of the Canadian Parliament. Because for us, HIV-AIDS has no boarders and we will never rest until there is a cure.

Recognizing the growing Latino population of our three great nations, the International Court Council will beginning next month begin distributing and promoting all campaigns, projects and information materials in spanish.

The International Court System is also very proud to have  a partnership with CenterLink which has GLBT community centers in over 250 cities across america.This partnership will work to promote and educate the history of the GLBT civil rights movement by displaying in neighborhoods all across america our exclusive mural artwork Gay Mt Rushmore.

As I’ve said so many times before, our Jose is much more than just an Empress and Founder.  Jose Julio Sarris is indeed the Rosa Parks of the Gay Rights Movement. In 1955 Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of a bus because she was tired of being treated like a second class citizen. Likewise in 1961 Jose also tired of being treated second class and became the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in North America.

I believe we must work to preserve the history of our communities, equality and imperial courts. For remembering our past we then commit ourselves  to the future. Like our Native American brothers and sisters, we must learn to become more like story tellers, and work to save, record and safeguard our courts history before it is ever in dangers of being lost and changed. I have said it many times: A community, indeed a movement, that doesn’t not know from which it came, does not know really were it is going. As I entered the ballroom this evening it was thrilling to see Seattle’s history exhibit on display to teach everyone of the long and important history of the Imperial Court of Seattle. I commend Rainier  24 Harry Hoglin for his dedication to making it for all of us to see. I urge  all courts to follow suit and do the same to research and preserve your history.

In honor of our Founder Empress Jose’s 90th birthday I have proclaimed 2013: The Year of Our Seniors and Elders. It is time we show the respect and support our seniors need and deserve. Even if just a simple smile, conversation, and/or friendship…seniors  will grateful and appreciate for all positive attention you can give them.

Please know that the International Court System will continue to focus outreaching to all people as part of my commitment for open arms welcoming even more of our courts membership to lesbians, people of color, transgender, bisexuals, and our straight allies, friends and families. I am pleased to report that when the International Court System gathers next weekend at San Francisco’s Coronation, we will be honored with the presence of the reigning Empress of San Francisco’s mother and father and the reigning Emperor’s father. A reflection of our true family values.

My commitment to bringing more new blood and youth to our court system remains a high priority. I have said many times; the youth are not our future, they are our here and now. The International Court System will continue to reach out to this generation, mentoring them and passing onto them the torch of leadership. I am grateful to a young canadian prince, Kieron Keegan, who established our 30 Under 30 Council, and I am proud that I have named the youngest heir apparent in the history of our courts; 23 year old Rose Emperor Athens Scities Foxx of Portland.

In February of 2015 guests from near and far will gather to celebrate with the Founding Mother Court  of the International Court System in San Francisco for it’s 50th Anniversary; a weekend of festivities concluding with a grand ceremony inside under the rotunda of San Francisco City Hall. Then following in December 2015 guests will again assemble in Las Vegas to commemorate the establishment of the International Court System with a regal international state dinner and gala: 50 Years  of Noble Deeds. The Triumph of the Monarchy.

I am especially proud as are all citizens of Seattle proud to be here celebrating your monarchs; Rainier Rick Peters Lake and Olympia Beverly Peters Lake. Yours has truly been a successful reign building on the future, including the youth of your community; building long last friendships, and passing onto them the torch of leadership. The culmination of all your efforts is rewarded with the crowning of the youngest Rainier of Seattle at just 25 years old.

In closing, many people ask me what I am most proud of during reign, this renaissance era, and I tell them….it is visiting all of our great many courts and communities seeing up close how truly you all are doing God’s work…feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, and providing love all for the betterment of others less fortunate.  To this end I am proud that the International Court Council has established a permanent anti-discrimination policy and a zero tolerance for theft, embezzlement or misuse of a court’s charitable funds.

Indeed all of our many great courts have much to be proud of. The International Court System is one of the oldest GLBT organizations in the world and all of your noble deeds have accomplished in moving our three great nations forward over these past almost five decades without any paid staff or offices.

It is because of your efforts that I am committed and will never let Jose’s or our courts legacy be lost. It is because of your accomplishments that I commit to you all that by 2015 the 50th Anniversary of our founding that the International Court System will have completed a book and documentary recounting our historical importance to be placed in archives and centers across our three great nations.

Is is my deepest honor to serve you, and my greatest privilege to be your Queen Mother of the Americas.

From the Heart, Through the Court, For the Community

God Bless Canada

God Bless Mexico

God Bless these United States

and may God Bless our Founder, Empress Jose

I remain the strength of our courts past and the promise of its future.

Empress Nicole the Great

Queen Mother I of the Americas

nmrsandiego@yahoo.com

619-692-1967

P.O. Box 33915

San Diego, CA 92163

Stuart Milk Photo: Son Appareil photography

San Diego LGBT Weekly: Stuart, thank you very much for taking time out to talk to San Diego LGBT Weekly. This is an historic decision. What happens now? And how long will it take?

Stuart Milk: The number of sponsors on the board of supervisors is enough for it to pass as a Charter Amendment. Then a referendum will go before the citizens of the City and County of San Francisco and the result will be determined by a simple majority, and if 51 percent vote in favor it becomes Harvey Milk San Francisco International Airport with 36 million people passing through the airport and 9 million international passengers a year. The referendum will happen either in August or November. That is yet to be decided.

The research done by the board of supervisors indicated that physically changing all the names and signage of the airport would take up to two months with the cost being privately raised, so there would be no fiscal drain of monies from the City.

The electronic changes are done almost instantaneously, which means monitors around the world will reflect the new name. So for instance, a young man in Islamabad, where it is illegal to be LGBT, will be able to look up at a board that will show flights emanating from his country routing through to Harvey Milk San Francisco International Airport. That will have tremendous meaning.

What was the Harvey Milk Foundations’ role in this?

The Harvey Milk Foundation is very supportive of this effort. But let me say this, my larger role is with the Milk family and the Milk family has been involved with the board of supervisors, in particular with Supervisor Campos, in talking through the merits of this, the impact, the honoring of Harvey’s legacy and the global work being done by Harvey’s family members for world equality. The Milk Foundation itself has offered resources and partnerships in getting the funding for the name change and seeing what educational aspects can come of having the ninth busiest airport in North America being named the Harvey Milk San Francisco  International Airport.

So the Milk Foundation is engaged in offering support for the future but, right now, the Milk family has played a significant role in working with Supervisor Campos on the renaming process.

What impact do you think this will have on the equality movement?

I feel this could have a larger impact than even the elements of legal equality. Take Eastern Europe. There are places like Hungary that have put equality into their law. They passed civil unions; they have since taken them away. They gave full rights to Roma people; they’ve since taken them away. Equality in the law does not mean societal equality. In Hungary they would have a hard time rousing people to attack the LGBT community, which the current rightwing party is doing, if Budapest Airport was named after a prominent LGBT hero.

There is a societal equality and educational element that is huge. And you combine that with the fact that you’ve got 77 countries in the world where it is illegal to be gay, yet their leaders, their citizens will be flying into an airport named after a prominent LGBT rights hero. This sends a powerful message not only to the citizens, who are struggling for hope but also to their world leaders.

I would love to see the image of a world leader who just said that gay marriage will be the downfall of humanity, which was the Pope; I would love to see his image riding in his Pope-mobile flying into Harvey Milk San Francisco International Airport. This sends an important message.

As important as streets and parks are this is a daily use, a general population global element that has huge implications for education and dialogue. This has huge implications for business, particularly those not embracing the non-discrimination of LGBT people. Suddenly they find themselves at an airport named after an LGBT rights icon and they can’t continue business as normal. They have to accept that the world has moved on, the world has changed.

It is much bigger than what happens in a community within a community.

San Diego became the first city to name a street after Harvey Milk; how do you feel this momentous decision of renaming the airport will impact other cities in recognition of Harvey Milk?

Well, I think it can. One of your city commissioners, who is on the board of the Milk Foundation, Nicole Murray Ramirez went with me and saw the type of meetings that the Milk Foundation does in Italy. And we had the LGBT Center there rename their public space after Harvey and we gave them a bust.

Harvey is huge in places where there is no equality. So when you have public spaces named after someone it does help create that expanding information and recognition of those that came before us. Harvey is unique in that not only did he give his life he knew that he would be giving his life. That is a very powerful story.

The reason that Harvey is huge in Italy, or Turkey or Pakistan is because people are repressed there. His legacy is not quite as big in places where people have some high level of comfort in their LGBT acceptance. How much the other marginalized communities in Italy love Harvey is huge even when they haven’t done a lot of work with the LGBT community but they heard how this LGBT activist was also for women, Latinos, Africans and for religious and economic minorities. And they were inspired by his story and saw he didn’t just stand up for one community he stood up for everyone.

As you know the San Diego GLBT Historic Task Force has initiated a letter writing campaign to name a U.S. Navy ship after Harvey Milk. Do you feel this airport naming decision will influence these types of projects?

I can’t say. I can tell you that there have been discussions between the family and the Pentagon. The great thing about Harvey is that people feel connected to him and everyone feels a part of him in some way – just like a lot of African Americans feel connected to the King legacy.

One thing that I have learned, though, is that the families are very engaged with this process.

San Francisco has a tremendous icon, but Harvey is a California icon; Harvey is a San Diego icon; Harvey is an American icon; Harvey is a global heroic citizen. San Diego, led by Nicole Murray Ramirez have, I think, very much done their part, to move this ball forward.

And how is the U.S. postage stamp campaign going?

Well, with that campaign we still need people to write letters.

What message do you feel this sends the country in general?

I think the most important message for me, from being in places where equality has moved forward then backward is that we’re moving forward and we are not allowing ourselves to move backward. By naming a place where 40 million people go through; where thousands of people a day fly through; a very important hub to commerce, communication, population movement and to transport it sends the message that we are not going to go back and that’s the key.

Harvey talked about that 35 years ago; he talked about Germany, who at the time were moving ahead on transgender rights and then the Third Reich came along and said we’re repealing all that. There’s a famous quote, and believe it or not Republicans like this better than Democrats, that is, “The price of liberty is vigilance, the price of equality is vigilance.” You can’t stop. When you’re a minority group you can’t simply say we’ve accomplished it. We have to always remain vigilant and having a Harvey Milk San Francisco  Airport is different from having a Harvey Milk promenade park. Not everyone has to go to the promenade park. But with the airport what are they going to do – fly into San Jose instead of San Francisco.

How does this make you feel, personally?

My personal emphasis has been, and what I have been doing  for the past decade, is talking about global equality. I can see the image of young people in India, in Nepal, in Pakistan, even in Dubai looking up at a monitor named after someone that they know is who they authentically are and, especially when they know that being open right now is criminal and could get them killed, that gives them hope and it’s not a hope that diminishes. Their people, their parents, will be travelling to that airport named after an openly LGBT advocate. That is very powerful hope. It connects the world to equality.

Where do we go from here?

Harvey’s legacy continues. It hopefully will continue to grow. But it’s not just about my uncle now. It is about those who have come after him as well … It’s about the Todd Gloria’s, the Nicole Murray Ramirez’, it’s about even our allies, the Jerry Sanders’, Bob Filner’s who have been great supporters of inclusion. But it is very important for us to realize, especially young people who sometimes forget, that there is a history that must not be forgotten and a price for equality. If you are a member of a minority group it’s work and it continues. And Harvey would like nothing better than for his name, his image, his likeness and his legacy to be righting the world for not just LGBT people but Latinos, Asians, women, ethnic and religious minorities – anyone who has been marginalized and diminished, like he was when he first ran for office. When he first ran for office it was illegal to be gay and it was deemed a mental illness by the American Psychological Association and the Psychiatric Association. Now there will be people coming through into that airport from places that still diminish, not just LGBT people but many different types of people and hopefully it will be a huge indicational moment that  it is not going to work; the world is not going to go back; it’s going to move forward.

Stuart, thank you for your time.

Harvey Milk International Airport Photo: Jan Stevens for the Harvey Milk Foundation

It has been publicly announced that a majority has been reached within the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to endorse a charter amendment to rename San Francisco International Airport as Harvey Milk San Francisco International Airport.

The amendment needs only six supervisors for it to become a charter amendment which will then go before the citizens of the City and County of San Francisco for a vote. It is reported that David Campos, the first openly LGBT Hispanic member of the board of supervisors, and the lead sponsor of the renaming project has nine supervisors on board as joint sponsors. Campos, whose idea the name change was, has been in close consultation

At work arranging his archives, José Sarria holds an inscribed 1946 photo of a
young German friend who would later become a major film star: Klaus Kinski.

Turning 90 on December 12, San Francisco native José Sarria has a long record of contributions to the GLBT community. A celebrated performer, advocate of homosexual equality and founder of several gay organizations, he was the first known openly gay person to campaign for elected office, running for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961.

So Sarria wasn’t altogether surprised when one of the most prestigious museums in the United States called about his archives. “The Smithsonian asked me to donate,” he said. “But not everything. They just wanted the correspondence.”

Sarria had already given a substantial portion of his papers to the GLBT Historical Society when he left San Francisco in 1996. Now living in a cozy cottage behind the home of friends in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, N.M., he looked over his files and memorabilia — and made up his mind.

“I decided my materials should stay together,” Sarria explained. “With everything in one place, people will be able to see the story from beginning to end.”

GLBT Historical Society founding member Gerard Koskovich recently flew to New Mexico to help Sarria pack the materials. At the end of a four-day visit, 21 boxes were on the way to San Francisco. Among the treasures: extensive personal correspondence; costumes from Sarria’s performances at The Black Cat bar in the 1950s; and records of the Imperial Court, the international network of drag charities that Sarria founded in 1965.

Still tucked away in Sarria’s home are historic paintings, photographs and more files. Sarria says those materials will come to the Historical Society in due course — and he’s already putting his words into action. A couple days after the shipment from New Mexico arrived, Sarria phoned Executive Director Paul Boneberg to let him know that two more boxes were in the mail.

We are now launching our “get out the vote” drive with posters/cards, etc., in partnership with the National Gay Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) headquartered in Washington, D.C. All courts are urged to put up these non-partisan “GLBT Vote 2012″ posters… Thank you.

You can find the poster on our DOCUMENTS page.

San Francisco will be hosting a gala dinner in honor of our beloved founder’s 90th birthday on *December 8*. While this wonderful event has the full support of the International Court System, this is a San Francisco event being hosted and organized by some members of the Imperial Family.

I am in communication with its Chairs, but *all* information will come from San Francisco and there will be limited seating for this gala affair in honor of Jose.

The Double-Headed Eagle of the Imperial Family of Russia (The Romanovs) was chosen by me in honor and respect of the mother and founding court US all: *San Francisco* whose symbol is also the Double-Headed Eagle.  All future “Queen Mothers / King Fathers* will also always be regally attired and wear the official cape as I have for now over 5 years.

I am pleased to announce two new Officers of Parliament:  Prime Minister *Emperor Mark Surreal* of Spokane, Washington, and Deputy Prime Minister *Emperor Larry* of Reno, Nevada. Both of these gentlemen’s decades of leadership and commitment to the principles of our court system will help take Parliament to the next level.

Recently, I had the honor to present an award to Shane Bitney Crone along with Congressman Bob Filner.  Young Shane’s video about the death of his partner and marriage equality has gotten over Three million hits on YouTube and a documentary film is already being made on his life.  I urge you to see his video.

For more information on Shane Bitney Crone, see the articles in:

http://www.frontiersla.com/Features/Exclusive-Interviews/Story.aspx?ID=1756959

or

http://lgbtweekly.com/2012/08/23/unfinished-symphony/

I received a tour of Alaska’s outstanding * Gay and Lesbian Center of Anchorage* by it’s Executive Director *Phyllis Rhodes* and also visited the “gay section of this city’s cemetery.  My first visits to Alaska were in the 1970s and to return and see this court’s growth and unity these past four decades made me so proud to be the Queen Mother of this wonderful and hard working court system of ours

A special thank you to *Emperor Kevin*, *Empress Paula*, *Empress MeMe*, *Emperor Ken*, *Empress Myrna LaChoy* and the Court of Alaska… God bless you all.

My next state visits are *Washington, D.C.*, *Toronto*, *Portland*, *Hawai’i*, *Los Angeles/Hollywood* and *Las Vegas*.

“Harvey Milk was a lion of social justice. To see his likeness on a U.S. stamp would do this country proud,” said Russell Roybal, deputy executive director of external relations at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “Harvey Milk’s courage, commitment and perseverance continue to inspire and inform people all around the world who fight every day for equality and our common humanity.”

He adds, “Thousands have made their voices heard by signing this petition. We ask the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee and United States Postal Service to listen and do the right thing by choosing a true trailblazer, Harvey Milk. The Task Force is proud to partner with the Harvey Milk Foundation and International Court Council in this important and historic endeavor.”

The Task Force launched its Change.org petition leading up to Harvey Milk’s 80th birthday in May, in coordination with the Harvey Milk Foundation and International Court Council.

“As one of the first openly gay men elected to public office in the United States, and as the first in California, Milk inspired a generation of activists and continues to be a lasting symbol in the fight for full equality,” the Task Force petition said. “As a 2009 recipient of the Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, Harvey Milk has already been nationally recognized as a pioneer in the fight for civil rights of gays and lesbians.”

Roy Betts, manager of community relations for the United States Postal Service, told Change.org, “I am pleased to respond that Harvey Milk is under consideration by the committee for possible future stamp issuance. The committee is responsible for reviewing stamp proposals and making subject and design recommendations to the Postmaster General.”

On behalf of the United States Postal Service’s Postmaster General, the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee ( CSAC ) is tasked with evaluating the merits of all stamp proposals. A public announcement about a potential Harvey Milk stamp will not be made until the fall of 2013 at the earliest.

“The committee decides on new stamp subject recommendations far in advance of the issue date in order to provide time for planning, design, production and distribution. Currently, the 2012 and 2013 stamp programs are completed, and stamp subjects for the 2014 program and subsequent years are being selected,” said Betts. “Although many of the subjects for upcoming new stamps have been identified, no public announcement of individual new stamps is made until the entire stamp program for that year has been approved. This occurs in the fall preceding the year of issuance.”

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Harvey Milk Stamp Petition on Change.org:

http://www.change.org/petitions/honor-harvey-milks-legacy-with-a-usps-stamp

Learn more about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:

http://www.thetaskforce.org

Learn more about Harvey Milk:

milkfoundation.org

by Matthew S. Bajko

m.bajko@ebar.com

An advisory panel tasked with determining whom, or what, to commemorate with U.S. postage stamps is considering the late gay Supervisor Harvey Milk for such an honor, the Bay Area Reporter has learned.

This fall the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee contacted Milk’s family to gather more information about the San Francisco politician, who in November 1977 became the first out person to be elected to public office in a major U.S. city. A year later disgruntled former Supervisor Dan White gunned him down in City Hall along with then-Mayor George Moscone.

The committee also notified the Harvey Milk National Stamp Campaign that it was looking at issuing a Milk stamp at some point.

“We received official communication from the postal commission that he is under consideration,” said San Diego resident Nicole Murray-Ramirez, who chairs the national Milk stamp campaign. “It could be in 2013 or 2014.”

Milk’s openly gay nephew, Stuart Milk, told the B.A.R. that his family has been asked by postal officials about upcoming significant milestones that the issuance of a Milk stamp could commemorate. November 8, 2012 would mark the 35th anniversary of Milk’s historic electoral win, while May 22, 2015 would coincide with Milk’s 85th birthday.

“I can tell you that the family has been told that stamps are issued around major milestones for an individual getting a stamp. The query that came in was records indicate he would be 82 [in 2011], which is not a milestone,” said Stuart Milk in a recent interview. “I think, personally, without it being officially communicated to me, but we will see a stamp once a milestone is agreed upon.”

Neither Jean Picker Firstenberg, who chairs the stamp advisory panel, nor vice chair Ira Michael Heyman, a former UC Berkeley chancellor who chairs the stamp panel’s subject subcommittee, responded to requests for comment this week.

U.S. Postal Service spokesman Roy Betts told the B.A.R. he was unfamiliar with whom the stamp panel has contacted regarding its deliberations for future stamp subjects. But he said if the Milk family and stamp campaign had heard from the panel, then that was a positive sign.

“If they have received notification from the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee that the subject is under consideration, it is a positive step in the direction of the stamp being issued,” said Betts.

Momentum for a Milk stamp has been building since the B.A.R. first reported in March 2009 that Ohio resident Daniel Drent had created a Facebook page in an effort to see one be issued in time for Milk’s 80th birthday this past May 22. As of this week, nearly 14,000 people had signed on to the online group, though the page appears to be dormant.

A Milk stamp idea has been kicking around since the late 1980s, when San Francisco artist Jim Leff, a gay man who knew Milk, painted a mock-up of what such a stamp could look like. In 2005 San Francisco’s 11-member Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution calling on the U.S. postmaster general to issue one for the gay rights leader.

After the B.A.R. interviewed Leff and ran a photo of his Milk stamp in April 2009, the Imperial Court Council picked up the cause at the behest of Murray-Ramirez, who serves on his city’s Human Relations Commission and is on the board of the Harvey B. Milk Foundation. Known as Nicole the Great within the Imperial Court System, Murray-Ramirez is executive director and international spokesperson of the International Court Council.

The Milk foundation signed on as a supporter of the national stamp campaign, and Stuart Milk serves as an honorary chair. Other honorary chairs include former Milk confidante Cleve Jones; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey; Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center CEO Lorri Jean; the Reverend Troy Perry, who started the Metropolitan Community Church; openly gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco); openly gay state Assembly Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles); and Dustin Lance Black, who won an Oscar for his Milk biopic screenplay.

In addition to reaching out to LGBT people across the country, the Milk stamp campaign has enlisted bipartisan support from elected leaders throughout the U.S. Both openly gay Democratic New York state Senator Tom Duane and Republican San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, an out lesbian, have sent in letters backing a Milk stamp.

In her letter to the stamp advisory committee, dated June 18, 2010, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) called Milk “a San Francisco hero” who continues to inspire people the world over. She urged the panel to make Milk the first person to be recognized for their work on LGBT rights with a stamp.

“The United States Postal Service has yet to honor an LGBT American hero with a stamp, commemorating the life and efforts of Harvey Milk would be a testament to Harvey’s courage and a symbol of pride to anyone who has ever felt discrimination or cared about those who have,” wrote Pelosi.

New Jersey’s two Democratic U.S. senators, Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, both wrote letters in support of a Milk stamp. Other elected leaders who have sent in letters include Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego), outgoing Colorado state Representative Joel Judd (D-Denver), and Republican San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who has a lesbian daughter.

Lautenberg, in his letter dated November 19, 2010, wrote that, “Mr. Milk’s courageous devotion to LGBT civil rights will serve as a proud reminder of the dedication to justice and equality that has come to define our nation. Harvey Milk left an indelible impression upon history, one that is certainly deserving of consideration for a commemorative stamp.”

In his letter urging the creation of a Milk stamp, dated August 10, 2010, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, a Democrat, noted that California already has honored Milk with an unofficial state holiday every May 22, which was his birthday, and that President Barack Obama in 2009 posthumously awarded Milk a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“Harvey Milk is revered nationally and globally as a pioneer of the LGBT civil rights movement for his exceptional leadership and dedication to equal rights,” wrote Gordon, who urged the stamp panel to “soon” issue a Milk stamp.

It is unclear exactly how many letters the stamp advisory committee has received in support of a Milk stamp. The postal service’s Betts said he didn’t know.

Nor did Murray-Ramirez, who said the national campaign group is continuing to urge people to write in letters of support.

“The feedback we have gotten is they are very impressed so many handwritten letters have been sent,” he said. “The last couple of years or more there has been a constant flow of letters from all over the United States.”

This week, Tuesday, December 28, the postal service announced the commemorative stamps that have been approved for release in 2011. Among the list are ones honoring former California governor and President Ronald Reagan; famed author Mark Twain; the 150th anniversary of the Civil War; the 50th anniversary of America’s first manned spaceflight; and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500-mile auto race.

As for the 2012 selections, Betts said he would not know what the advisory panel has decided until next August.

“Usually, that is when our stamp services department starts to share the info with me,” he said. “The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee will receive tens of thousands of suggestions for stamp subjects. They narrow that down to 20 to 25 subjects annually and recommend those subjects to the postmaster general, who makes the final decision.”

Of the 12 stamp selection criteria listed on the stamp advisory panel’s website, two would appear to directly apply to a Milk stamp. One states that events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration “only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.”

The other specifies that only people with “widespread national appeal and significance” will be considered. Those fitting this description would be people “who have overcome great challenges or active discrimination to enter a field or accomplish an aim and thus created opportunities thereafter for others similarly situated.”

Supporters of various stamps can wait a decade or longer before their selection is approved, said Betts, such as backers of a stamp honoring Motown star Marvin Gaye, who died in 1984.

“They’ve been waiting well over a decade. There are other subjects that people have been waiting quite a number of years for,” he said.

For more info on how to send the stamp panel a letter urging it to commemorate Milk, and to see copies of letters already sent in by various politicians and local groups, visit http://www.impcourt.org/icis/info/HarveyMilk/index.html.

Nicole Murray Ramirez, LGBT person of the year

Nicole Murray Ramirez, a long time San Diego Latino and LGBT rights activist, has been named the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender person of the year by city Assemblymember Toni Atkins.

Atkins explained that San Diego’s LGBT community has relied upon Nicole Murray Ramirez over the years and  noted the city’s progress by pointing out this year’s record LGBT representation in civic government.

“There are seven LGBT members of the California Legislature and 3 viable LGBT candidates for mayor of San Diego,” Atkins said, adding that both gay marriage and the long-awaited repeal of DADT lie ever nearer on the statewide and national horizons as well.

“Without Nicole’s tireless and trailblazing work,” Atkins concluded, “we could not have come so far.”

Murray Ramirez, who currently serves as a San Diego City Commissioner, national board member of the Harvey Milk Foundation, International Court Council chairman, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force board member and distinguished contributor to LGBT Weekly, received recognition at a special ceremony today at the State Capitol in honor of his distinction as the LGBT person of the year for the 76th Assembly District.

Over the course of his 45 year career as an activist and LGBT community leader, Murray Ramirez has maintained staunch local roots working with the last five mayors of San Diego while also serving a variety of statewide and national organizations including the Human Rights Campaign, the National Latino/a Lesbian and Gay Organization (LLEGO), Equality California and Stonewall 25. In addition, Murray Ramirez is the sole gay activist nationwide to have been selected to sit on all four national boards of the Washington D.C. LGBT marches.

The ICC has become a founding partner of the international campaign, A Note To My Kid. I urge Court Members to get their fathers and mothers to send in their stories, letters, notes, etc. to ANoteToMyKid.com and become a part of this wonderful campaign.

American Hero Receives ICC Civil Rights Award-

Out of the tragedy of the Arizona shooting came a reluctant hero… 20-year-old Congressional Intern Daniel Hernandez who saved the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Hernandez has received praise and acknowledgement from around the world and the President of the United States.

On Saturday, May 7th, 2011, at Arizona’s Coronation V, Daniel Hernandez received the International Josè Julio Sarria Civil Rights Award.

Hernandez, a proud Latino and member of our own GLBT community, has become a role model and a quiet, but true, hero for all Americans.

Be it in 1975 when ex-marine veteran Oliver Simple helped save the life of then
President Gerald Ford from an assassination attempt….to 2001 and 9/11… when two
gay Americans: one being the late Father Mychael Judge the Chaplin of the New York
Fire Dept… the other soccer player Mark Bingham who helped bring down the plane in
Pennsylvania… they became American heroes to a grieving nation…
And now comes 2011… and the making of another true American hero who we honor
tonight…
For out of the tragedy of the Arizona shooting came a true hero for us all: who helped
save the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords…
… my fellow members of the International Court System… when you look up the origin
and history of the word: HERO the Greek definition is “defender, protector, to save”….
This definition fits our honoree well…
I present the 2011 recipient of the International Jose Julio Sarria Civil Rights Award to
Mr. Daniel Hernandez of Arizona
Original Document

It is with great pride that I inform you all that the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Honorable Nancy Pelosi has endorsed and given her full support of our International Court System’s campaign to get the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp in honor of Harvey Milk.

Speaker Pelosi joins federal, state and local Democrat and Republican elected officials who have joined our non-partisan communities and people’s national campaign to get a Milk stamp. Click here to view the letter Speaker Pelosi wrote to the U.S. Postal Service.

For more information on the International Court System’s campaign for a U.S. stamp in honor of Harvey Milk please visit our website.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your continued support of this important project and campaign. Keep sending those letters.

Empress Nicole the Great
Queen Mother I of the Americas

The United States Congressional Record is a publishing of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress (the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America) on a daily basis when the bodies are in Session. The Congressional Record also includes the official entering of statements made to congratulate, honor or otherwise recognize the achievements by people, organizations or causes within the United States.

The ICS is one of the first national organizations to be included in the Congressional Record. Representative Susan Davis addressed the 11th Session of the United States Congress, composed of 535 persons, on the 8th of June with the transcript attached. Mrs. Davis marked the achievements of the ICS over the course of 45 years, recognized our beloved Founder Empress I José and described some achievements of our Queen Mother I of the Americas Empress Nicole the Great.

In honoring the ICS’s legacy of activism and philanthropy, the recording of the ICS in the Congressional Record is a permanent mark of the impact of the ICS on our communities.  Please join me in proudly displaying and announcing such an historic event as we continue our important work of Noble Deeds in North America.  Feel free to include in your Coronation Programs, Court Newsletters and any other materials used to promote.

This historic document is a salute of recognition of 45 years of all of our work.

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