Significant Events in our history

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The early 60's were a rough time to not be "straight".  Laws allowed for divorces, firings, refusing to rent, involuntary medical procedures and even more (none of it good!).  Into that stepped three people.  Jose from San Francisco, ted northe from Vancouver BC, and Mame from Portland had a friendship that extended from the Bay to Canada, and would make the long trek from each city for celebrations and events,  and to meet potential partners.

In 1964 Jose was elected Queen of the Beaux Arts Ball, sponsored by the SF Tavern Guild.  In early 1965 Jose declared that Monarchs should be known as Empresses, and having so declared founded the International Court System.  José Julio Sarria was born in San Francisco California on December 12, 1922 as the only child of Maria Dolores Maldonado of Columbia and Julio Sarria of San Francisco.

His childhood was a rough adventure with an absentee father and an overworked mother. He spent many years in the care of families who loved and nurtured his individuality while his mother served as a Nanny to several families. His elementary education started at Emerson Grammar School but attended several schools including the Rafael Military Academy. He graduated from Commerce High School in San Francisco.

 In 1960 Jose and another San Francisco resident, Guy Strait formed the first gay non-profit in the State of California- The League for Civil Education. LCE provided support for gay men caught in the all too frequent police stings, and sponsored ongoing presentations on homosexuality.  In 1963 Jose split off as the League started to focus mostly on their newsletter and formed S.I.R, The Society for Individual Rights. At a time when same-sex dancing was banned in bars, SIR's most popular events were regular dances held at the group's space on 6th Street near Market in the heart of San Francisco's skid row.SIR was seen as fairly radical in that it did not support hiding the fact that you were homosexual but instead argued “"responsible action by responsible people in responsible ways".  Opened in April 1966, the SIR Center, the nation's first gay and lesbian community center, had a resource library, a performance hall and a small office space. SIR sponsored many social and political functions, including bowling leagues, bridge clubs, voter registration drives and published its own magazine, Vector. In association with the Tavern Guild, SIR printed and distributed "Pocket Lawyers". These pocket-sized guides offered advice on what to do if arrested or harassed by police. By 1968 SIR was the largest homophile organization in the US with over 1,000 active members, a thriving magazine, and the base for political power that would later shake the city. SIR lasted for 17 years, ceasing operations in 1980. Along with other local groups, including the Daughters of Bilitis (the nation's first lesbian rights group) and the Tavern Guild (an organization of gay bar owners), SIR helped form the Council on Religion and the Homosexual, in conjunction with progressive Protestant clergy.

 In 1961 Jose declared himself a candidate for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Remember that at the time he had to find registered voters to sign the petition allowing him to run, and he was running as an openly gay man! The day before the deadline city officials realized that they had fewer applicants than open positions which would have guaranteed Jose a win. The City bosses kicked into gear and had a near-record 34 candidates on the ballot a day later! Jose ran his campaign from the Black Cat Bar and spent many a speech talking to the gay community about accepting the power they had if they worked together. Even though he lost that November, placing ninth of almost 30 candidates and garnering about 6,000 votes, it is recognized as the beginning of the gay community showing its personal and political clout. As Jose says “from that day on nobody ran for anything in San Francisco without knocking on the door of the gay community”. In 1977 the first openly gay man to win an election in California, Harvey Milk, was elected to that same position.  

Jose realized that, as the system had grown, she wanted to get input from a trusted cadre of Court Members, and after several informal years established a legally recognized Council in 1995  

In 2007 Jose anointed her successor, Nicole Murray-Ramirez, aka Empress Nicole the Great, and bestowed upon her all rights as the titular head of the International Court System.  Within the Imperial Court System, Murray-Ramirez long held a leadership position as President of the Imperial Court Council and 1st Heir Apparent to José Sarria, the Widow Norton.   City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez has been elected the chair of the San Diego Human Relations Commission (HRC) for an unprecedented four terms.

The San Diego Human Rights Commission comprises leaders from the Religious, Latino, Asian-Pacific Islander, African American and Native American communities appointed by the mayor and the City Council. Murray-Ramirez was first appointed by then-Mayor Dick Murphy, and reappointed by Mayor Jerry Sanders. When first elected four years ago, he was the first openly gay man elected as chair. Murray-Ramirez was unanimously elected chair by the fellow commissioners.

Murray-Ramirez has served the last five mayors of San Diego, and was elected as the chair of the first mayor’s GLBT Advisory Board and the first GLBT Advisory Board to the chief of police.

Murray-Ramirez has been a Latino and gay activist for 45 years serving in roles as past national board member of the Human Rights Campaign, past National Chair of LLEGO, the National Chair of Stonewall 25, and the only gay activist in the country who has been elected to all four national boards of the Marches on Washington, DC. He was also elected chair of the Millennium March. He is the past State Chair of Equality California and is currently serving a four-year term on the national board of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. He was also appointed by the county Board of Supervisors to the Regional Task Force on AIDS in the 1980s and has served as a county deputy marriage commissioner.

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All about the Courts and the Council