Get Them On Their Knees!
Future Emperor Tree escorts newly knighted Dame Joyce Randolph (The Honeymooners) and Dame Claire Buffie (Miss New York)
How do you get your boss on your knees in front of you? Offer them a knighthood when you’re the reigning monarch!
Well, at least that’s what I had the glorious opportunity to do when I invested my boss as Dame Ingrid Floyd. Granted, she’d just celebrated a decade as the Executive Director of Iris House, providing HIV Support Services to women and met any qualifications, but it was still a treat! I also had the honor of knighting Sir Will Clark, adult entertainer and longtime NYC philanthropic mover and shaker.
At the Imperial Court of New York, it’s all a game: titles and honors are camp ways of thanking people for their service to the community, and we have a long tradition of allowing our reigning monarchs to “knight” prominent members of our community.
Over the years, we’ve awarded knighthoods to politicians (Tom Duane, Jimmy van Bramer, Rosie Mendez), Activists (Sean Strub, Dr. Mathilde Krim, Rev. Pat Baumgardner, Judy Shepard, Melissa Sklarz), Entertainers (Lady Bunny – twice! – Robin Byrd, Donnie Russo, Boy George, Ariel Sinclair) non-profit leaders (Tom Viola, Gina Quattrochi, Robert Woodworth, Nelson Santos, David Ludwigson, Gregory Noone, Annie Soriano, Kevin Lotz) and icons (Dina Dynell, Rollerena, Joan Rivers, Joyce Randolph, Kevin Aviance) and dozens of others.
It’s one of the Imperial Court of New York’s ways to say “Thank You” to leaders in our community and to help shine the spotlight on the work of people around New York and New Jersey who are fighting the good fight every day. Oh yeah, and make sure you refer to them as “Sir” or “Dame.” They’ve earned it!
In 2017, we’re moving our knighthood ceremony to our annual Holiday Party, but will continue to recognize them in our dinner journal and celebrate with them at Night of a Thousand Gowns on March 11, 2017. Will you be at the ball?
Join Us!