Legacy
ICS Courts
In 1965 Jose Sarria founded the Imperial Court de San Francisco, which was the first “court” of what is now known as the International Court System, a grassroots network of organizations that works to build community relationships for equality and raise monies for charitable causes in their respective communities. With 70 affiliated “chapters” in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it is one of the largest LGBTQ+ organizations in the world.
Each of these Imperial Court System “Chapters” are self-governing organizations that raise funds for charities in their own cities. We provide links to these Courts as a way to honor Jose Sarria’s legacy of community service and encourage you to support these individual independent organizations.
Jose and Bob Kramer, Seattle Coronation, WA 1976
San Francisco 1995 – Texas Walk
Surrey BC 2004 – Coronation 1
Washington DC 2014 Crowning
New York City 2012
Imperial Court Locations
Coronation Ball Calendar
- September 2023
- 23 – Iowa
- 23 – San Francisco Ducal
- 30 – Washington, DC
- October 2023
- 08 – Portland, OR
- 14 – Toronto, ON
- 21 – Spokane, WA
- 21 – Hawaii
- 21 – Georgia
- 28 – Dallas, TX
- November 2023
- 04 – Cincinnati, OH
- 11 – Colorado Springs
- 18 – Chicago, IL
- 18 – Los Angeles, CA
- 18 – Ogden, UT
- December 2023
- 02 – Las Vegas, NV
- 09 – Palm Springs Sparkle
- January 2024
- 13 – Houston, TX
- tba – Ft Lauderdale, FL
- February 2024
- tba – Minnesota
- 03 – San Diego, CA
- 17 – Connecticut
- tba – Seattle, WA
- tba – San Francisco, CA
- March 2024
- tba – Long Beach, CA
- tba – Bellingham, WA
- tba – Vancouver, BC
- 16 – Ft Worth, TX
- tba – Salem, OR
- April 2024
- tba – New York City, NY
- tba – Oklahoma
- tba – Bellingham, WA
- tba – Denver, CO
- 27 – Sacramento, CA
- tba – Rhode Island
- tba – Corpus Christi, TX
- tba – Calgary, AB
- tba – Vancouver, WA
- May 2024
- tba – Phoenix, AZ
- tba – Surrey, BC
- 25 – San Antonio, TX
- tba – Buffalo, NY
- tba – Fresno, CA
- tba – Salt Lake City, UT
- June 2024
- tba – Lexington, KY
- tba – Reno, NV
- tba – Waco, TX
- July 2024
- tba – Alameda Ducal
- tba – Omaha, NE
- tba – Winnipeg, MB
- tba – Boise, ID
- August 2024
- tba – Hamilton, ON
- tba – Austin, TX
- tba – Everett, WA
- tba – Eugene, OR
- tba – Edmonton, AB
- tba – London, ON
- September 2024
- tba – Alaska
- tba – Indiana
- tba – Washington, DC
- tba – Regina, SK
- tba – Albuquerque, NM
- tba – Missoula, MT
- tba – Alameda, CA
- tba – Iowa
- tba – San Francisco Ducal
- October 2024
- tba – Toronto, ON
- tba – Spokane, WA
- tba – Portland, OR
- tba – Hawaii
- tba – Georgia
- tba – Dallas, TX
- November 2024
- tba – Cincinnati, OH
- tba – Colorado Springs
- tba – Tacoma, WA
- tba – Chicago, IL
- tba – Los Angeles, CA
- tba – Ogden, UT
- December 2024
- tba – Las Vegas, NV
- January 2025
- tba – Houston, TX
- tba – Ft Lauderdale, FL
- February 2025
- tba – Minnesota
- tba – San Diego, CA
- tba – Connecticut
- tba – Seattle, WA
- tba – San Francisco, CA
- March 2025
- tba – Long Beach, CA
- tba – Bellingham, WA
- tba – Vancouver, BC
- 15 – Ft Worth, TX
- tba – Salem, OR
- April 2025
- tba – New York City, NY
- tba – Oklahoma
- tba – Bellingham, WA
- tba – Denver, CO
- tba – Sacramento, CA
- tba – Rhode Island
- tba – Corpus Christi, TX
- tba – Calgary, AB
- tba – Vancouver, WA
If you notice an error, please email us. EMAIL
Courts List by State/Province
United States
Alaska – Alaska
Arizona – Phoenix
California
Alameda
Alameda Ducal
Fresno
Long Beach
Los Angeles
Modesto
Orange County
Sacramento
San Diego
San Francisco
San Francisco Ducal
San Jose
Stockton
Colorado
Colorado Springs
Denver
Connecticut – Connecticut
Florida – Ft Lauderdale
Georgia – Augusta
Hawaii – Hawaii
Idaho – Boise
Indiana – Indianapolis
Illinois – Chicago
Iowa – Iowa
Kentucky – Lexington
Massachusetts
Boston
Western Massachusetts
Minnesota – Minnesota
Montana – Missoula
Nebraska – Nebraska
New Mexico – Albuquerque
New York
Buffalo
New York City
Ohio – Cincinnati
Oklahoma –Oklahoma
Rhode Island – Providence
Texas
Austin
Corpus Christi
Dallas
Fort Worth
Houston
San Antonio
Waco
Washington
Bellingham
Everett
Seattle
Spokane
Tacoma
Vancouver
District of Columbia
Washington D.C.
Canada
Alberta – Calgary
Edmonton – Edmonton
British Columbia
Surrey
Vancouver
Manitoba – Winnipeg
Nova Scotia – Halifax
Ontario
Hamilton/Niagara
London
Toronto
Saskatchewan – Regina
Mexico
Tijuana
If you notice any broken links or if one needs updated, please email us. EMAIL
Jose Honors
The Jose Honors was created by the International Court Council to not only recognize the outstanding achievements of individual Courtiers and Courts of the Imperial Court System but also reflects upon the legacy of Jose Sarria, the beloved founder of the ICS.
We are not affiliated with the Jose Honors, but include the list of honorees as a part of Jose Sarria’s legacy of community service.
2022, Cincinnati, OH
- Sean Childers-Gray, Ogden,UT
- Landa Lakes, San Francisco, CA
- Lorne Stelmach, Edmonton, AB
- Molly Mormen, Cincinnati, OH
- Rob Surreal, Spokane, WA
- Miss Drew, Hamilton, ON
- Daphne Storm, Eugene, OR
- Misha Rockafeller, Sacramento, CA
- Court of Distinction – Fresno, CA
2020, Washington, DC
- Barbie LaChoy – Ft Lauderdale, FL
- Betty Desire – Bellingham, WA
- Martini – Boise, ID
- Jaylene Tyme – Vancouver, BC
- Misty Blue – San Francisco, CA
- Rob Hunter de Woofs – New York, NY
- Steve Lobsinger – Vancouver, BC
- Jerry Colletti – San Francisco, CA
- Court of Distinction – Washington DC
2018, Sacramento, CA
- Ms. Galilea, San Francisco, CA
- Martin Rooney, Surrey, BC
- DoMe Moore, Sacramento, CA
- Peter Storm, Bellingham, WA
- Nicole Diamond, Lexington, KY
- Caroline Loevner, New York, NY
- Nathan Page, San Francisco, CA
- Court of Distinction – Edmonton, AB
2016, Vancouver, BC
- Alexis Miranda, San Francisco, CA
- Madison Lane, Seattle, WA
- Leah Way, Edmonton, AB
- Vincent Ricci-Breeze, Buffalo, NY
- Farrah Moans, New York, NY
- Nina Diamonds, Halifax, NS
- Court of Distinction – Portland, OR
2014, New York, NY
- DeDe Drews, Vancouver, BC
- Gregg Looker, Denver, CO
- Tony Monteleone, New York, NY
- John Ribson, Hamilton, ON
- Scott Seibert, Portland, OR
- Liz Loren Romanoff, Palm Springs, CA
- Court of Distinction – Grand Ducal San Francisco
2012, San Francisco, CA
- Ann Tique, New York, NY
- John Carillo, San Francisco, CA
- Shelly, Portland, OR
- Stephanie Foxx, Portland, OR
- Collette LeGrande, San Francisco, CA
- Court of Distinction – Alaska
2010, Lexington, KY
- Gabriel Della Notte, New York, NY
- Joan-E, Vancouver, BC
- Fred Townson, San Francisco, CA
- Lovely Suzanne, Portland, OR
- Ms. Rhonda, Calgary, AB
- Court of Distinction – Nebraska
2008, Denver, CO
- E.V. Royse, Lexington, KY
- Madame, Toronto, ON
- TJ Istvan, San Francisco, CA
- Chris & Lala, San Diego, CA
- Poison Waters, Portland, OR
- Robin Kradles, New York, NY
- Dr. Michael Lyons, Omaha, NB
- Riffin Family, Waco, TX
- Court of Distinction – Boston, MA
2006, New York, NY
- Suzie Wong, San Francisco, CA
- Aleksa Manila, Seattle, WA
- Ben Dillingham III, San Diego, CA
- Sydney Andrews, Denver, CO
- Kristoff, Vermont
- Ran-Dee, New York, NY
- Court of Distinction – Sacramento
2004, Boston, MA
- Lily Whyte, Des Moines, IA
- Cindy Williams, Fresno, CA
- Katrina / Noel, San Diego, CA
- Michael D’Agostino, Hartford, CT
- Leigh Bray Rockhopper, Austin, TX
- Court of Distinction – Lexington
2003, Seattle, WA
- Mame, Portland, OR
- Suzie Bowman, Des Moines, IA
- Candice, Toronto, ON
- Gladys Over, Buffalo, NY
- Brandi Roberts, Denver, CO
- Remy Martin, San Francisco, CA
- Kevin Drake, Boston, MA
- Bruce Butler, Eugene, OR
- Court of Distinction – Reno
2002, Denver, CO
- Mercedes, Hamilton, ON
- Stephen Rascher, San Francisco, CA
- Peter Christie, Salt Lake City, UT
- Michael Cornejo, Ogden, UT
- Mr Bill & Champagne, Portland, OR
- Nina Montaldo, Denver, CO
- The Austin Baptist Women, Austin, TX
- Court of Distinction – San Diego
2001, Portland, OR
- Rick Ford, San Diego, CA
- Karina Samala, Los Angeles, CA
- Crema, Vancouver, BC
- Ray Snively, Portland, OR
- Bob Hemby, Austin, TX
- Jack Guthrie, Ft Worth, TX
- Kevyn Wood, Reno, NV
- Court of Distinction New York
2000, Vancouver, BC
- George Ray, Seattle, WA
- Frank Schreckenberger, Portland, OR
- Dot Thompson & Jeanette Vaughn, Houston, TX
- Charity Regina, Vancouver, BC
- Ralph Martino, Providence, RI
- Bruce & Avaughna Sanoir, Regina,SK
- Buster Boxx, Edmonton, AB
- Stephanie Lane Barr, Winnipeg, MB
- Gene Brake, San Antonio, TX
- Chevon Davis, Buffalo, NY
- Court of Distinction – Vancouver, BC
1999, San Francisco, CA
- Chantilly, Stockton, CA
- Marlena, San Francisco, CA
- Lee Daniels, Providence, RI
- Mama Karen, Vancouver, BC
- Darcelle XV, Portland, OR
- John Halm, Dallas, TX
- Jane Arends, Eugene, OR
- Pauline St James, Orange County, CA
- Court of Distinction – Denver
1998, New York, NY
- Maria, Portland, OR
- Judy Jive Vander Vogue, Vancouver, BC
- Natalie Gaye, Lexington, KY
- Philomena, New York, NY
- Jessica St Jon, Dallas, TX
- Craig Morgan, San Diego, CA
- Ginger, San Francisco, CA
- Dawn Valley-Parkway, Toronto, ON
- Court of Distinction – Cincinnati
Inaugural Honorees – 1997, San Diego, Ca
- Coco LaChine – New York, NY
- Cicely, Portland, OR
- Pepe, Anchorage, AK
- Larry and Jack-E of Reno, NV
- Billy Cassandra, Denver, CO
- ted northe, Vancouver, BC
- Milo, Eugene, OR
- Hope, Santa Monica, CA
- Jhigs, San Diego, CA
- Jim Mangia, Hollywood, CA
- Donna Sachet, San Francisco, CA
- Ryan Waters, Toronto, ON
- Richard Tracy, Waco, TX
- Larey, Los Angeles, CA
- Court of Distinction – Connecticut
Jose as Widow Norton at annual pilgrimage to the cemetery
Jose Scholarship
The Jose Julio Sarria International Scholarship Endowment was created in 2015 by the International Court Council. This fund is fully administered by the ICC and the endowment is managed by the Blue Grass Community Foundation.
We provide this link to it to encourage donors to support this incredible legacy created by the ICC to honor Mama Jose. www.josescholarship.org
For the love of Mama Jose…
This scholarship honors the legacy of Jose Julio Sarria, a decorated veteran of World War II, LGBT civil rights pioneer, a noted cabaret performer and an historic icon often referred to as the GLBT Rosa Parks.
In 1961 Jose became the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in North America, running for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors position that would later be held by Harvey Milk. In 1965 Jose proclaimed himself Empress of San Francisco and founded what is now known as the International Court System a group of 70 affiliated independent charitable organizations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Each of them are dedicated to improving their communities and making them safer places for everyone, including members of the Gay, Lesbian and Transgender communities.
The scholarship was created by the International Court Council, to honor our beloved founder Jose and to promote his legacy of charitable works and commitment to civil rights.