Ogden Bound!

In the coming days groups of people from the ISGCI will be traveling to Ogden where the Imperial Rainbow Court of Northern Utah (http://www.irconu.org) will be hosting Coronation 2009. By all counts this will be the best turnout from Boise so far during the 32nd reign and promises to be one of the best showings by ISGCI at any Ogden coronation.

We will keep you updated via Twitter and this blog as the event unfolds.

If you are planning on attending please let JD know at GemCourtJD@gmail.com or call or text JD at 208.286.6519.

Red Ribbon Bash and Forever RED

We raised well over $700 for the Jerry Swett Fund last weekend thanks in large part to the very hard work of the Jerry Swett Administrators. Thank you to everyone who turned out for the show and a huge thank you to the Neurolux. If you would like to make a donation tot he Jerry Swett Fund, which helps people in Idaho living with HIV and AIDS, you can send a check to ISGCI c/o Jerry Swett Fund, PO Box 6338, Boise, ID 83707. A big thanks to Susie Stertz who recently did just that.

The ISGCI was very honored to have been able to participate again at this years' Forever RED hosted and presented by a.l.p.h.a. at the Grove Hotel. The ISGCI won the Delorian Snow Philanthropy Award and long-time member Craig LaChance won the Elan Vital Leadership Award.

We are very proud of the hard work and efforts by our many members who have done so many noble deeds for the Idaho community over the last three decades - GOOD JOB EVERYONE!

Our Letter to Diversity Dec/Jan

As it will appear in Diversity.

Greetings from the Imperial Sovereign Gem Court of Idaho and the 32nd Reign. We wish to convey our sincere appreciation to our members who so unselfishly give of their time and effort to represent our organization in such an outstanding manner. It is important that we pause and extend words of encouragement and our appreciation to those who are so willing to step up to the plate and deliver devoted work; and in many cases receive nothing more than the satisfaction of having been there for all of us. This is not sufficient reward for all they do, but they do not complain.

Too often we fail to recognize the positive side of what is being done for our organization and community by those such as our very capable Privy Council, our Jerry Swett and Jimmy Moore Administrators and all those who give of their time to promote our events that raise much needed funds for people in this community. From the bottom of our hearts we wish to extend our very sincere thanks.

We salute every member of the ISGCI and members of other organizations who give of themselves to help support and move our community forward. The ISGCI has a fine organization to build upon. Let us build and work together and always make sure that our remarks and actions are a reflection of respect to our members, organization and community. We feel strongly that respect and courtesy pays dividends and if we follow that rule we can all expect a great “paycheck” at the end of the day.

Nationally the Imperial Court System has been working hard to raise funds for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which recently celebrated a great success with the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This measure expands the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

The bill also:
· removes the prerequisite that the victim be engaging in a federally-protected activity, like voting or going to school;
· gives federal authorities greater ability to engage in hate crimes investigations that local authorities choose not to pursue;
· provides $5 million per year in funding for fiscal years 2010 through 2012 to help state and local agencies pay for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes;
· requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to track statistics on hate crimes against transgender people (statistics for the other groups are already tracked).

Here in Idaho we have been busy over the last few months. In October entourages from the ISGCI and the Emperor and Empress traveled to Spokane and to Portland for their annual coronations. Our thanks to the many members of this organization who represented Idaho so well during our travels – we are truly proud of you.

As we write this we prepare for “Red Ribbon Bash” a show to raise money for the Jerry Swett Fund which helps support Idahoans living with HIV and AIDS. We also get ready to celebrate with our friends at Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS (a.l.p.h.a.) at Forever RED. We wish to congratulate this fine organization on their many good works and are proud to have been a sponsor at the event. We also prepare to celebrate with our friends of the Imperial Sovereign Rainbow Court of Northern Utah at their annual Coronation in Ogden, Utah.

Our annual Christmas show is coming up on Dec. 4th which is titled “I’ll Be Warm for Christmas” and will be held at 8pmn at the Balcony Club. The cover is $5 but if you bring a warm winter coat to donate to a veteran in need your cover will be waived. This is our small way to salute the fine men and women of America’s armed forces and those who have served and sacrificed for their country. We will also have a show on Friday, December 18th at 8:30 pm at the Neurolux titled “8 Crazy Nights” which will be filled with plenty of comedy routines. Also don’t forget to buy raffle tickets to win a 32” flat screen TV donated by Tom Woodward to help us raise money for our scholarship fund. As always for more information keep checking our recently re-designed website at www.idahogemcourt.org.

We would like to thank the fine establishments in Boise that allow us to raise so many needed funds for our community: The Visual Arts Collective; the Lucky Dog Tavern; the Balcony Club; the Neurolux; Firefly Lounge; Pitchers and Pints and so many other groups and businesses that continue to help us succeed.

In parting we wish you a fun-filled and safe holiday season.

HMISM JD Morgan, Emperor 32 of all Idaho

HMISM Selena Blaque, Empress 32 of all Idaho

HMISH Andrea Morgan, Crown Princess 32 of all Idaho

Observing Veteran's Day

At this time the 32nd Reign would like to say thank you to our men and women who are serving, or who have served, this nation in our armed services. These incredible American citizens risked their lives for this country. Whether or not you believe this to be a just war it is imperative to stand strongly behind the men and women who are in harm's way, far from home and family.

This Veteran's Day we would like to highlight that there are still thousands of men and women serving in the armed forces like Lt. Col. Victor J. Fehrenbach, USAF, currently stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Fehrenbach, a heavily decorated genuine American war hero, is scheduled to be discharged from service to our nation because he is gay. This Veterans' Day please remember that the LGBT men and women in uniform often carry a greater sacrifice while deployed: the inability to talk freely with their same-sex partners, knowing that their partners will not be the first to know if something dreadful happens, that their partners and children will not be afforded the same rights and stipends that their heterosexual counterparts receive. Remember the burden of duty, but also remember the extra burden that is placed upon LGBT veterans.

This Veteran's Day take the time to educate yourself and others about the un-American and anti-patriotic "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that unfairly bars LGBT Americans from their right to perform their patriotic duty in service to the United States.

Please Join Us for Red Ribbon Bash - Benefiting the Jerry Swett Fund.

Please join the ISGCI and the Jerry Swett Administrators for the Red Ribbon Bash. Friday, November 14th at the Neurolux beginning at 9pm. All performers are welcome. Proceeds to benefit the Jerry Swett Fund which assists Idahoans living with HIV or AIDS pay for non-medical expenses. For more information text JD at 208-286-6519 or email gemcourtjd@gmail.com

Please add our banner to your website!

Please consider adding the banner that appears at the top of this page to your website. The address for the html code is at http://www.idahogemcourt.org/funds/tvraffle.htm#Add this banner

Amateur Strip Contest Nov. 7th @ Lucky Dog

Join us November 7th for an amateur strip contest at the Lucky Dog. To participate (as a stripper) please contact Andrea Morgan, Crown Princess 32 at 208.571.4339 or gemcourtandrea@gmail.com

Forever RED Nominations now open!

Forever RED Nominations are now available online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5SiLD56GBxnJ7q8LuPJD0A_3d_3d please be sure to stop by and nominate the ISGCI and any other individual or organization. Nominations will close on Nov. 13th - Forever RED will be held Saturday, November 14th at the Grove Hotel. For more information about the event contact a.l.p.h.a. at 208.424.7799

Updates and progress

We are actively working on the new idahogemcourt.org website and improving our online communications. Please bear with us as we make these changes. If you experience any difficulty with our website or any other online feature please email gemcourtjd@gmail.com. Thanks again for your continued support of this great organization!