UNITED COURT OF THE LONE STAR EMPIRE, INC
a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization
Dallas, Texas
ABOUT US
United Court of the Lone Star Empire, Inc.
Our organization has proudly served the Dallas Community for over 40 Years.
We are an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, helping those in need, one dollar at a time.
Our Mission Statement
The United Court of the Lone Star Empire, Inc. is a non-profit membership organization which exists to provide service and support for the local Community. We live out our mission through:
From the HEART – We hear the call of a Community in need. Our empathy and passion about raising funds for HIV/AIDS agencies, community healthcare needs, hunger/nutritional support, GLBTQ youth organizations, and other vulnerable members of society is the cry of our hearts.
Through the COURT – Through rich traditions of years gone by we come together to perform service projects that provide direct relief of others distress. We support local non-profit agencies by raising much needed funds so that they can carry out their mission to provide professional and direct relief to the community.
Founded and operated as a sovereign and independent organization we align ourselves with the International Court System’s ideas of service and charity. We also pay homage to and live out the rich traditions of regal, royalty and charity, which we call “The Game.” We practice the tenets of pomp and circumstance, decorum, joviality, regal and the honorable while not taking ourselves too seriously. Our game, titles and adornments is “camp in nature” – meaning for show. The service we provide and the funds we raise – our purpose – is serious as the needs of our suffering Community.
For the COMMUNITY – We are active members of our Community. Through the works of our presence and goodwill, we actively engage in relationships throughout our Geographical Service Area. As participants in our Community, we can more readily know its needs and can therefore provide the necessary support. As an organization rooted in the GLBTQ community we form relationships that build and lift up our mission. Our focus is the Community, and at the end of the day our energy, time and efforts are to ease the distress of our Community. We are of the Community and for the Community.
​
​
Our Philosophy
The primary purpose of the UCLSE shall be to raise funds in order to assist other IRS 501(c)(3) organizations who provide direct relief to the local community . The fundraising efforts shall be for medical research into, education about and support for persons within our service area.
Our History
The Imperial Court System is comprised of organizations from over 70 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico, each organization is Sovereign but working toward the same goals, donating our time and efforts to improve the lives of those in need. The United Court of the Lone Star Empire Inc., along with 6 other Sovereign Courts in Texas comprise the United Courts of Texas. Though Sovereign in right, the focus is the same, working together to improve the lives of those in need throughout the Lone Star State.
A Historical Timeline
September 1978 - Formed and First Meeting of the Imperial Court of the Lone Star Empire presided over by HMIM Michael Caringi, Emperor IV after Norton, of San Francisco
October 1978 - First fundraising event of the Imperial Court of the Lone Star Empire held at the Texas Territory Bar
December 1978 - the Imperial Court of San Francisco states that they will honor Dallas as an Imperial Court once all necessary papers were filed and authorized Emperor Michael Caringi to place the crowns on the heads of the first ones chosen as Emperor and Empress of Dallas
July 1979 - First Coronation of the Imperial Court of the Lone Star Empire
July 1979 - First African-American Empress of Dallas, Cindy Birdsong, is elected
July 1982 - First Coronation of the United Sovereign Council of Texas
July 1984 - Coronation for the Imperial Court of the Lone Star Empire is moved from July to November
November 1986 - The Imperial Court of the Lone Star Empire and the United Sovereign Council of Texas re-unite to form the United Court of the Lone Star Empire
November 1986 - First Coronation of the United Court of the Lone Star Empire
November 1986 - First fundraising event of the United Court of the Lone Star Empire is held at Buddies bar
July 1987 - United Court of the Lone Star Empire receives word that its application to become a non-profit corporation has been approved by the State of Texas; making it the first incorporated Court in the State of Texas
November 1988 - The United Court of the Lone Star Empire, Inc. receives word that it has been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS as a 501(c)(4) corporation
November 1988 - First Lesbian Emperor of Dallas, Linda May, is elected
October 1994 - First Hispanic Emperor of Dallas, Albert Hernandez, is elected
November 2002 - First Heterosexual Female Empress of Dallas, Pam Steele, is elected
November 2003 - First Hispanic Empress, Veronica Morgan, of Dallas is elected
August 2006 - The United Court of the Lone Star Empire, Inc. receives word from the IRS that its application for change to 501(c)(3) status has been accepted
November 2006 - First Lesbian Empress of Dallas, Julie Walker, is elected
January 2007 - Julie Walker is named Heir Apparent to Empress Nicole the Great, QM1 of the Americas
November 2007 - The first pair of Hispanic monarchs are elected, JR Duran and Devon DeVasquez
October 2009 - First Trans-Gendered Empress of Dallas, Miss Audrey Dumae Germany, is elected
January 2009 - Donna Dumae is named Heir Apparent to Empress Nicole the Great, QM1 of the Americas
September 2010 - UCLSE adopts a 7 member Board of Directors effective January 1, 2011
December 2010 - Devon DeVasquez is the first member from Parliament to be named an Heir Apparent to Empress Nicole the Great, QM1 of the Americas
October 2012 - First gay married couple elected as Emperor and Empress, Larry Harrell and Messy Panocha
October 2013 - First non-monarch is elected as an officer to the Board of Directors, Louis Kenmar, Secretary
January 2013 - UCLSE adopts an 11 member Board of Directors
October 2014 - UCLSE elects the first non-monarch President of the Board of Directors, Mickey Hightower
December 2014 - UCLSE adopts a 9 member Board of Directors
December 2014 - Ricky Matlock is named Heir Apparent to Queen Mother of the Americas, Empress Nicole the Great
​
January 16, 2016 - Empress XII & XVII, Cati Collins, aka: David Hamilton passes away.
​
August 16, 2018 - Empress III, Leslie Michaels passes away.