Tag Archives: Imperial Court

The funeral for Jose Julio Sarria, also known as the Widow Norton, was held yesterday at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral.  Sarria, who was the first openly gay person to ever run for public office in the United States, left instructions for his service: Female titleholders from his Imperial Court — the gay organization and charity he started in 1965 — …

The legendary Jose Julio Sarria, also known as the Widow Norton and Empress I Jose, the founder of the International Court System and America’s first openly gay candidate for public office, died yesterday at the age of 91. Here’s a recap of the below clip: “A short tribute to the Founder of the Imperial Court System, Jose Sarria who passed …

The legendary Jose Julio Sarria, also known as the Widow Norton and Empress I Jose, the founder of the International Court System and America’s first openly gay candidate for public office, has died at the age of 91. GLAAD has posted a remembrance: One of America’s gay rights pioneering leaders, José Julio Sarria, passed away quietly in his home in …

Last night I attended the Imperial Court Of New York’s 26th Annual Night Of 1000 Gowns, which this year benefited PFLAG and New Alternatives. Swirling amidst all of the winking pomp and circumstance were empresses, emperors, duchesses, dukes, viscountesses, dowager empresses, and probably a dozen other royalty titles unknown to me. Also in the room were 100% of all the …

Last night I attended the Imperial Court of New York’s 25th annual Night Of 1000 Gowns, which this year benefited the Ali Forney Center and the Trevor Project. Swirling amidst all of the winking pomp and circumstance were empresses, emperors, duchesses, dukes, viscountesses, dowager empresses, and probably a dozen other royalty titles unknown to me. Also in the room were …

The Imperial Court’s Night Of A Thousand Gowns took place in NYC last week. Lots of bold-face names in the below clip, including several contestants from the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The evening benefited Broadway Cares and God’s Love We Deliver. Oh, the spectacle.

Yesterday I had a fun lunch with Matt Foreman and his partner, during which Matt told me about having attended the previous night’s Night Of 1000 Gowns, and we chatted about the similarities between the Imperial Court and International Mr. Leather pageants. Later in the afternoon, I arrived at the Dugout to find an Imperial Court victory party in progress. …