The Court of More is MORE!
I’m honored to be your new Empress of San Francisco
Picture this: The year is 1980 and the Mr. & Miss. Gay San Francisco Pageant is taking place at California Club — a formal event space that was a then-touchstone in a queer neighborhood — on Clay Street between Polk and Van Ness. Miss Gay San Francisco, Shelly Rio, takes the podium to say a few words as she comes to the end of her one-year reign. As speeches go, this one wasn’t going to be a glowing account of her past year nor a humble farewell speech. Rumor has it she began by reading another queen — to filth. In the middle of her throwing copious amounts of shade, like a tall willow on a sunny summer day, someone stood up from one of the dining tables and told her to shut up, while another person shouted for everyone to be quiet.
That’s when someone knocked the podium over. And the brawl began.
Now Mr. and Miss. Gay San Francisco Pageant was only a few years old at that time; it was then a title owned by the Imperial Council of San Francisco, which also raised funds for various charities since its inception in 1971. Up until then, there had been no catfights or sparring queens.
(Now, don’t get me wrong: I love a good fight. Especially, when watching one from within four corners of a boxing ring. When I was a kid trying to hide from everyone at the Boys Club of America, I got called out by the visiting professional boxer, two-time world heavyweight champion, and Olympic gold medalist George Foreman. He asked me to spar with him and in under two minutes taught me the basic boxing stance and how to throw a punch — which I did as best I could right into his gloves. I left the Boys Club that day feeling as though I had completed my entire journey through the after-school bullying program.)
However, there was no fighting this weekend at Coronation 56, called “Get Lit, A Novel Idea.” It was a beautifully organized — physically distanced, mask-wearing virtual — event. Emperor XLVIII AFter Norton William Bulkley, Absolute Empress Mimi Osa, Emperor XLVII After Norton Terrill Grimes Munro and Absolute Empress LIV Baby Shaques-Munro had absolutely everything under control. There were greetings, love, and performances from around the world.
The beautiful Ehra Amaya — my co-candidate (not my opponent), ran a fantastic campaign with an incredible team and great support from our community. We both reached goals of raising awareness and garnishing new voters to come out to the polling places on voting day. (When we were backstage, and it was time to hear the results.) Neither one of us had a clue as to what the outcome would be. It was most definitely a bittersweet moment because I believe whoever had won would’ve done phenomenal work for the court system. And it’s that very reason why I look forward to working with Ehra during my reign.
It’s been a fantastic journey — one that I wouldn’t trade for anything. (Well, that’s not entirely true.) Thank you to my sublime team who helped with this campaign — I am so grateful. My campaign manager Absolute Empress LII Mercedez Munro, and treasurer Emperor XLVI After Norton Leandro Gonzales — were the perfect guides in navigating me through all of the pomp and circumstance. There aren’t many things in life that give you a complete rushing sensation that comes with a humble win; it is a similar rush to flipping the perfect pancake, rolling the symmetrical joint, or walking into a room full of people that all know your name. That is, however, until you realize that you are now Empress of an entire city.
I’m going to allow myself the time to think about, appreciate, and celebrate everything that has been done to get to this past weekend.
Mr. David Glamamore and I are excited about the upcoming year of our reign, as we are both now thrilled to be your new Empress and Emperor — on a path to keep the Imperial Council of San Francisco a viable organization with a new direction, followers, and fans for decades to come.
To José Sarria, thank you for touching our lives in so many ways. May your legacy and vision live on forever. And I will do my best to continue supporting those very ideas of inclusivity, creating community, and fostering positive change.
Loads of Love,
Her Most Imperial Majesty, La Hembra de la Jefe, Wants More! From the Liquor Store, Empress Juanita More! from The Court of More is MORE!
