Harvey Milk
The International Imperial Court Council (IICC), led by Nicole Murray Ramirez, Queen Mother I of the Americas, played a pivotal role in the successful effort to have the United States Navy honor Harvey Milk—a California civil rights icon and Navy veteran, as the first openly gay elected official in the state.
Through focused advocacy, outreach, and direct engagement with Navy leadership, the Council and Nicole Murray Ramirez advanced the proposal to commemorate Harvey Milk’s service and legacy by naming a U.S. Navy vessel in his honor. Their leadership and persistence were instrumental in the Navy’s 2016 announcement to name a fleet replenishment oiler the USNS Harvey Milk.
In 2021, the USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206) was officially commissioned, representing a significant milestone in both Navy history and LGBTQ+ visibility. Nicole Murray Ramirez and the International Imperial Court Council were present at the commissioning, acknowledged for their essential contributions to bringing this historic recognition to fruition.
This accomplishment exemplifies the Council’s mission to preserve LGBTQ+ history, champion the recognition of community pioneers, and ensure that diverse contributions are honored and remembered at the highest levels of American society.