GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
AUGUST 16, 1996
Evenings Out
Magnanimity from the Mother Land
The Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court bestows royal wealth on AIDS organizations
by Daniel R. Mullen
In just a few weeks, the new emperor and empress of the Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court ofthe Buckeye Empire will be coronated. The crowning brings with it all the entitlements of highness-a year-long reign, invitations to the ceremonies of other courts, and the privilege to bestow wealth and declare heirs to the throne. This tradition of monarchy is alive and well, not in England, but in Cincinnati and all across the United States.
The International Court System's 65 organizations in the U.S. and Canada use this fantasy to promote charity. It's regalia the English way, that increasingly benefits AIDS organizations and research.
For thirty years these emperors and empresses have held the highest positions in several states because of their generosity. Or so it is written.
The whole formality is not only a campy way to make fundraising fun, it's based on a fairy tale truth. In 1849, Jewish London immigrant Joshua Norton settled in San Francisco. He built an empire of sorts in real estate and investments, and subsequently lost everything in the rice trade. For whatever reason (pride?), he picked himself up and declared to the news and national leaders that he was Norton One, “Emperor of the United States and protector of Mexico."
This is all fact, according to Court members. His title was recognized and his opinions considered by Abraham Lincoln and some leaders in Europe. He dressed in a flamboyant regal uniform that was donated to him yearly by the
Jim Taylor, Emperor Four of the Queen City Court, said the Cincinnati court was begun six years ago when travelers to Toronto were impressed with court system there. The Toronto Court appointed an Empress, and so began a succession of rulers who raise more and more money each year to make life easier for people with HIV or AIDS.
Emperor and empress hopefuls are members who campaign for the throne and are newly elected each year at the Coronation Ball. They appoint their own imperial crowned prince and princess.
They are more than figureheads, though. They suggest to the board which non-profit charities the organization should support for an entire year. And they may support other courts and empires by attending their events. Rachel Rogers and James One successfully campaigned for support of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR) and the AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati (AVOC).
AVOC was founded in 1983 to provide support services to people with HIV and AIDS. In 1995 its budget was $1.4 million. Taylor is
San Francisco Board of Empress and Emperor I Angela St. James and Billy Bolyard step
Supervisors.
down at Coronation II in 1992.
According to history, Norton died suddenly in 1880. His life might have been forgotten if it weren't for gay bar owner José Sarria. Sarria ran for San Francisco Supervisor (city councilmember) in 1961 as an openly gay candidate, the first to do so. It is said that he stood at Norton's grave, shrouded in black, and declared himself Empress One of San Francisco the widow of Norton!
The current Cincinnati empress enjoys the title of Her Most Imperial and Sovereign Majesty, the Fabergé Ziegfeld Empress, Empress Five, Rachel Rogers. Rogers is the drag persona of Dan Smith, who reigns with Jim Smith, or James One, the Golden Eye of the Rising Falcon Emperor, Emperor Five.
Rogers said Sarria is still making proclamations, like the pope does, to the entire court system. He guides it in a nurturing way and each court is free to run as it sees fit. The Queen City Court is the only court in Ohio. It is part of the East Coast system that includes Toronto; Providence, Rhode Island; Buffalo, New York; and a few other cities. Most courts are in the western U.S. In addition to San Francisco, West Coast courts are alive in Nevada; Washington state; Portland, Oregon; and Salt Lake City.
the AVOC office manager. AmFAR funds biomedical and clinical research, education for AIDS prevention, and AIDS-related public policy.
"As an emperor you are encouraged to attend the coronations of others, to represent the court of Cincinnati and try to encourage return attendance from these cities," said Kevin Rolly, Emperor Three. He said it's “just like in the old grand countries of Europe in the days of royal monarchy. Some of the members of the royal family in Austria, for example, would go and attend the ceremonies for a new a monarch being crowned in France."
"I'm ambassador to the city," said current Empress Rogers, and no one would dispute that. "I represent, to some degree, the gay community." She recently presented the award of Overall Entertainer at the city's Community Spirit Awards for gay achievement. "We want to have fun and we do," said Rogers, “but what we do is really very serious in terms of raising money for AIDS-related charities."
The emperor and empress sit on the board. When royalty step down, they enter the College of Monarchs who, totaling nine after Coronation Six, enjoy one collective vote on the board.
Her Most Imperial and Sovereign Majesty, the Fabergé Ziegfeld Empress V Rachel Rogers, will surrender the throne Sept. 7.
The board consists of president Steven Hooker, vice-president Ray Besse, treasurer Rick Snell, secretary Larry Slater, and membership chair Dan Ward. The board steers the court toward its goals. It makes sure money is being spent correctly and handles daily operations. Benefit proceeds are generally dispersed as needed by the receiving organization.
"The courts that have started in the last ten years have been much more focused on AIDS related charities," said Rolly. The Queen City Court began as an AIDS charity organization, unlike some older courts. The 250 volunteers do about forty benefits a year, said Taylor. "We have something going every weekend,” he said. Taylor estimates that the court will have donated over $100,000 by the end of 1996.
The annual T-Shirt Auction, the biggest fund raiser, netted over $10,000 on July 28 for AmFAR. Elizabeth Taylor's autographed Tshirt went to Teri Bonfield for $1,000. Steve Moeller bid $400 for Cher's T-shirt, and an anonymous bidder now owns a $520 shirt signed by Bette Midler.
What other benefits do the masters of magnanimity organize? In-house talent performs in drag shows at area bars. One show involved a bus trip to Dayton. (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of Ohio?) There's a casino night where successful gamblers use their playmoney winnings to bid on items donated by local businesses. The court likes the auction part. This year, round-trip tickets on Delta were sold. The Court also auctioned off the works of local artists, after showing the pieces together for a week.
"In July of each year we have what we call the Hog Fest," said Rolly. In this fundraising tradition, members are given a piggy bank, a hog, to fill with money for a year. "Its a big party. We serve hog treats, pork chops, hot dogs, ham sandwiches...and everybody turns in their hog and they pick up a new one."
The present rulers of the most charitable land will relinquish their power to a new royal family September 7 as the new Emperor and Empress are inducted in Coronation Six, dubbed "An Evening at the Ziegfeld Follies." Miller Beer has donated $5,000 as the event's underwriter.
At this ball, the biggest membership event,. the exiting monarchy formally presents the entire year's fundraising proceeds to the designated charities, said Taylor. The coronation is attended by royalty from the other East Coast courts. They will support the Queen City Court with their presence and donations. In Cincinnati, the empress has always been a drag queen and the emperor has always been a man. This is a tradition, not a requirement.
"For instance," said Rolly, “in Portland, Oregon, the empress was a straight woman and the emperor was a lesbian."
The candidate for Emperor Six is vicepresident Ray Besse. Christina Blake and Jamie Clay, the drag personas of Steven Hooker and Larry Slater respectively, will compete for the Empress Six title.
Coronation Six begins at 7:00 p.m. September 7 at the Cincinnati Regal Hotel. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 513-369-0011.
Rachel Rogers, who will surrender the throne that evening, said the Cincinnati court hopes to be the mother court of future Ohio monarchies. And rightly so. The Queen City Court was the first to claim the Buckeye Empire.