Hark to the sound of high heels and disco, for on Sunday, January 22, at castle Comeback in the cantref of SoDo, royalty gathered to honor their candidates for Emperor and Empress of the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle.
The International Imperial Court System (IICS) is one of the world's largest and oldest LGBTQ organizations, second only to the Metropolitan Community Church. It was founded by José "Mama José" Sarria in San Francisco in 1965. Now it has chapters all over the United States, as well as in Canada and Mexico, running fundraisers and bestowing titles of nobility to community leaders.
Seattle established its own court in 1971, soon after Portland, and that history was evident on Sunday. The age range was broad, and a good portion of the crowd was nobility of some sort, most of them present to perform in honor of the new candidates. They were dressed finely, but they weren't all in regalia from head to toe, as if — for some of the veteran members — they weren't there to prove something so much as show support for friends.
Formal honors were still in order. Seattle's own DonaTella Howe, a frequent performer at the Tractor Tavern, brought in her co-host Ladie Chablis to the tune of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing," and the pair's banter kept the audience smiling between the sets.
Emperor Rainier 46 Robert Haggard finally got his chance to present Ladie Chablis with an umbrella bearing her image, with a lip sync of a cover of Rihanna's "Umbrella." With Chablis, Haggard reigned over the Seattle Empire during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and oversaw part of its first forays into digital shows as a result.
Local darling Gaysha Starr, radiant as always, strutted in meticulous time to the beat of Taylor Dayne's "Tell It to My Heart," and she made it look easy. Starr acted as Grand Marshal for 2022's Seattle Pride Parade, and also performed at last year's Pride ASIA.
Reigning Mr. Gay Washington Leo Mane brought a gorgeous red and black outfit, laced up in the back, with big sleeves to compliment his sweeping dance moves to Rihanna's "Disturbia." Imperial Miss Gay Washington Moltyn Decadence took the Rihanna path as well, using "Birthday Cake," and yet another dark outfit — a shiny, black catsuit — as part of the night's theme of a coven.
Supreme of Hearts Ali B. Paradisco followed with Beyoncé's "Black Parade," and then reigning Imperial Queen of the Seas Victoria Joy with Donna Missal's "Keep Lying." Devin Rockafella served the crowd "Fever" by Adam Lambert with a dashing two-in-one vest and tailcoat. Finally, reigning Mr. Gay Seattle Dean the Vampire King shook things up with some gothic metal, namely "Love You to Death" by Type O Negative.
With tribute paid, the candidates were finally unveiled through their own performances. Kix Dball, running for Emperor, rocked the house with a rendition of the ever-popular "Baby Shark," in the only acceptable attire, a shark costume.
After Skyy Martini Ice, running for Empress, helped rid the audience of that earworm, both candidates joined the hosts onstage to begin their campaigns in earnest.
When asked why they wanted to run for the title of Rainier 48, Dball said, "To start, this organization and its chapters mean the world to me. They gave me my husband. The work that we do out in the community is amazing, and I would like to build upon that foundation and continue the beautiful history of this organization, raising money, helping the community, making new connections, making this organization bigger, better — just keep it going, building higher and higher."
"I joined this organization about six years ago," Ice said. "And I so admired and enjoyed the work that this organization does. I saw what they do for the community, in addition to everything that not only the Court of Seattle does but also the International Court System all across the United States — also into Canada and Mexico — all they work that they do, everything they give back to the community.
"When I first joined this organization, I was just a court member," she continued. "I jumped right in and came up with a lot of great fundraisers. It was also during the pandemic. I stepped up as Ms. Gay Seattle, along with my Chablis here. And we just had a wonderful time doing the best we [could] through the pandemic, making sure the court stayed on the forefront, doing fundraisers, volunteering with Northwest Harvest — who is also very near and dear to my heart."
Ice's platform as Ms. Gay Seattle, she noted, was about combating food insecurity in Seattle and across Washington state, and she promised that focus would continue through her reign as empress if elected.
Emperor Rainier 44 and 47 Paul Paradisco and Olympia's 51st Empress Londyn Bradshaw closed the show with their own numbers, Paul with a cover of Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero," and Bradshaw with Beyoncé's "Summer Renaissance."
Voting for the candidates will open on Sunday, February 12 at the Ray Gun Lounge on Capitol Hill, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can find out more about the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle and its events at https://www.imperialcourtofseattle.org/.