It began as a platform to foster gay pride during a time when homosexuality was still classified as a mental disorder. Over time it grew into a major fundraising vehicle for a vast array of causes and gave birth to myriad nonprofits in cities across North America.
Modeled after European monarchies, the International Court System now has nearly 70 chapters in cities across the U.S. and Canada, with one in Tijuana, Mexico. It dates its birth to 1965 with the founding of the Imperial Court of San Francisco, christened "the Mother Court," which is celebrating its golden anniversary in February.
"I believe, truly believe, that this is one of the greatest organizations in San Francisco to represent not only the gay community but all of the focuses we worked on and raised money for to help other people," said Absolute Empress XXV Marlena, 75, elected in 1990. "A lot of people think we are just a bunch of drag queens out having a good time and partying. We are much more than that."
The court system was founded by the late Jose Julio Sarria, who in 1964 crowned himself "Her Royal Majesty, Empress of San Francisco, Jose I, The Widow Norton" in homage to Joshua Norton, an eccentric city resident who in 1859 declared himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico. Sarria was well known for performing in drag at the now defunct Black Cat Cafe in the city's North Beach neighborhood. He made history in 1961 with his unsuccessful attempt for a Board of Supervisors seat; it marked the first time an out gay person had sought elected office in the U.S.
Working in tandem with the Tavern Guild, an association for gay bar owners in the city, the Imperial Court each year crowned a new empress during elaborate coronation ceremonies. Elections for emperor were added in 1972, with the late Marcus Hernandez, a leather columnist for the Bay Area Reporter, crowned Emperor I After Norton.
By then Imperial Courts had been established in a number of West Coast cities, with the roster steadily growing in the coming decades. In 1996 Sarria worked with other court leaders to form the International Court Council to help unify the various courts.
"We are an historic organization. We have helped build gay communities across the country," said San Diego resident Nicole Murray Ramirez, who as Sarria's handpicked successor holds the title of Queen Mother I of the Americas, Canada, U.S.A., and Mexico. "Jose established the court in 1965, that is way before Stonewall in 1969."
Ramirez refers to Sarria as a gay version of folklore character Johnny Appleseed.
"She planted a seed in San Francisco and it turned into the Imperial Court of San Francisco. She nurtured that, and it then grew into a strong Royal Oak tree with branches now in three countries the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. There are now chapters in nearly 70 cities in these three great nations, all from that little seed."
Many were the first gay groups to form in their hometowns, such as the Imperial Court in Surrey, British Columbia Canada, founded in 1998 by Emperor 1 & 7 Surrey?Martin Rooney, his partner Rob Loewen, and a lesbian couple who had moved to the city around the same time.
"We moved out to Surrey in 1996 and nothing was going on. It was a conservative city and people thought no gay would live here," said Rooney, 54, adding there are now close to 100 members in the Surrey court. "You get the opportunity to do incredible advocacy or activism. And you get the opportunity to play in roles of traditional monarchy."
Leaders within the court system, noted Ramirez, have gone on to launch LGBT nonprofits and other groups in their cities. Among those he listed are the Los Angeles-based agency Aid for AIDS, the Nevada AIDS Foundation, the International Gay Rodeo Association, and San Diego's LGBT community center.
"The history of a lot of the community coincided with the Imperial Court," said Ramirez. "Now, people have forgotten that role the courts have played. A community, a movement that doesn't know where it came from doesn't know where it is going."
Jerry Coletti, elected Emperor XVII After Norton in 1989 alongside the late Absolute Empress XXIV Pat Montclaire, said that during their reign as the Court of the Lion and the Lady they fought to foster stronger ties between San Francisco's leather and drag communities at a time when many leather bars would not admit drag queens.
"Pat Montclaire, my empress, is the reason that drag queens are accepted within the leather community," said Coletti. "Another example is the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. They had never been involved in any Imperial function before. Pat and I asked them to become involved in our two campaigns."
Over the years the court systems have also been conduits for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes. Each year's empress and emperor spearhead the fundraising efforts.
"We are a group of individuals who care about the organization and, particularly, our community," said Emperor XXXVI After Norton John F. Weber, the current chairman of the Imperial Council of San Francisco, the governing body for the local court. "Our sole purpose, as it was when Momma Jose started it, is to find the least among us, support them, empower them, and distribute money to the needy and charitable organizations and to do so while having fun. The moment we cease doing that - having fun and not give out money - then we miss the heart of why we are here."
By holding annual elections for empress and emperor - as well as contests for other titles such as Mr. and Miss Gay San Francisco - the Imperial Courts ensure new leaders are brought into the fold each year.
"Hopefully, the emperor and empresses title will go another 50 years," said Absolute Empress XVI Phyllis, a.k.a. Pushy Phyllis, whose given name is Jim Bliesner.
Bliesner, 64, now lives in Palm Springs but remains involved with the San Francisco court and will be attending the anniversary events next month.
"I am the oldest empress still involved. I am kind of like the queen mother Jose used to be," said Bliesner, who next year will celebrate the 35th anniversary of his being crowned the Ducky Empress. "I had a crown with Daisy Duck on it and I gave away Ducky Awards to people who helped me do things. The theme of my coronation was Upstairs Downstairs at Duckingham Palace."
Like others, Bliesner credits the court system for playing a major role in fostering a charitable tradition within the LGBT community and laying the foundation for so many of the nonprofits that came afterwards.
"We helped the gay community get to where it is today. I hope it does live on," he said. "I hope it survives another 50 years."
For information about the Imperial Court of San Francisco, visit http://www.imperialcouncilsf.org/index.html