© Reuters

The reach - The International Court System (ICS) currently boasts more than 65 chapters in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. But how did it come to be?

© Reuters

History -

In 1965, drag performer José Julio Sarria "proclaimed herself the Empress of San Francisco," according to the organization's website, and created fundraising groups where volunteers would be given the titles of nobility.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

© Flickr/Creative Commons

History - That led to the creation of the Imperial Court of San Francisco (later considered the "Mother Court" of the Imperial Court System). A court in Portland would be the first to join them, this in 1971, creating the Court System.

© Shutterstock

History - The Canadian Court System was also founded in 1971, leading to the creation of the Imperial Court System and the birth of more chapters.

© Shutterstock

José Julio Sarria - José Julio Sarria passed away in 2013, aged 90. Today, the iconic drag artist is regarded as Absolute Empress I.

© Reuters

Nicole Murray Ramirez -

As for who presently leads the ICS, that would be none other than San Diego City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, otherwise known as Queen Mother I of the Americas.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

© Flickr/Creative Commons

Privy Council - Nicole Murray Ramirez's official title is Titular Head of the International Imperial Court System. Ramirez is assisted by a Privy Council made up of empresses, emperors, and other members of the Imperial Court Council.

© Reuters

Imperial Court Council - The Imperial Court Council was created in 1995 to advise the various chapters of the ICS, and can grant or revoke recognition of these chapters. It is an incorporated non-profit organization.

© Shutterstock

Line of succession - The theme of monarchy continues with the ICS line of succession. The Queen Mother has her own "Heirs Apparent" (all members of the International Court Council), who replaced those designated by Sarria.

© Reuters

Chapters - Chapters can cover entires states or provinces (i.e. Hawaii), cities (i.e. Toronto), counties (i.e. Alameda County, California), or regions (i.e. Niagara).

© Shutterstock

Empires - Most of the ICS' chapters are Imperial Courts, and are therefore also referred to as "Empires." But some are "ducal courts" (or "duchies") or "baronies" (also known as "baronial courts").

© Reuters

Royal, Sovereign and Imperial Court of the Central Texas Empire - One chapter is the Royal, Sovereign and Imperial Court of the Central Texas Empire from Waco (pictured here in 2006).

© Reuters

Court of the Great Northwest Imperial Empire - Another is the the Court of the Great Northwest Imperial Empire, otherwise known as the Imperial Court of Sacramento, pictured here in 2018.

© Shutterstock

Imperial Court of New York - And yet another is the Imperial Court of New York, seen here at an event at the Stonewall Inn in 2019.

© Reuters

Duchies -

Though rare, a ducal court or duchy results when the new chapter's realm overlaps with the territory of an already existing one.

© Reuters

Baronies - A baronial court or barony results when a new chapter is not quite up to the standards deemed worthy of Imperial Court status.

© Reuters

How it works - Each chapter is a legally-incorporated charitable non-profit organization and exists as a separate entity.

© Reuters

How it works - The purpose of each chapter is to raise funds and awareness for charities and causes, usually with a connection to the LGBT community.

© Reuters

How it works - Each of the chapters has its own board of directors. They're also financially responsible for their own management.

© Reuters

The coronation - Every Imperial Court holds an annual "coronation" (in the case of ducal or baronial courts, "adornments" are held).

© Shutterstock

The coronation - The coronation is typically the largest fundraiser of the year, and is where a new monarch (or monarchs) is crowned.

© Shutterstock

The coronation -

Varying from chapter to chapter, the methods by which monarchs can be selected include a closed vote among active membership or an open vote among members of the community.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

© Flickr/Creative Commons

Investitures -

Usually several weeks after the coronation, the monarchs will present their court titles at a fundraiser called "investitures." Titles are typically based on European nobility, like Imperial Crown Prince or Grand Duchess.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

© Flickr/Creative Commons

Titles - But there's nothing stopping the use of other titles from the noble court, such as Court Jester or Chancellor. Nor are titles restricted to those of European nobility: Czar or Sultan, for example, are perfectly fine.

© Reuters

Families - "Family titles" can exist as well, and monarchs may name sons, daughters, siblings, and so on.

© Reuters

Partnerships - The ICS currently has partnerships with the Harvey Milk Foundation, The Trevor Project, Egale Canada, and the International Gay Rodeo Association.

© Reuters

Projects - Ongoing projects include the "José Julio Sarria Hall of Fame Nomination" and the "José Julio Sarria International Scholarship," to name a few.

© Shutterstock

José Honors Award - There's also the José Honors Award, with the first honorees named in 1997. Since 2004, honorees have been announced every two years.

© Reuters

Labor of love -

With all this talk of monarchs and nobility, let's not forget that there are no paid positions within the ICS: everyone's a volunteer. This truly is a labor of love.

See also: Forty years of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

© Reuters