Eunice Kennady Smith

Eunice Kennady Smith began her drag career back in the early 1980’s at which time I got involved with The Imperial Sovereign Court of Spokane and All Eastern Washington State.

In 1981 or 1982, I won the title of Miss Gay Spokane #2. In 1985, I was Imperial Crown Princess 14. In 1987, I won the title of Empress 16 of The Imperial Sovereign Court of Spokane and All Eastern Washington. During my reign, I set up the TCA Emergency Aids fund and the Marty 5 Children with Aids fund. These 2 fundraisers were very helpful for many years. With the Children with Aids fundraisers, we raised money that was awarded to the Wishing Star Foundation then to Camp Starlight.

In 1988, I attended my first function in Great Falls Montana. That was the beginning of another adventure for me. Helping the people in Montana grow with their City and State titles we made the decision in 1996 to start a chapter of the Imperial Court System and then The Imperial Sovereign Court of the State of Montana (ISCSM) was born. I was given the lifetime title of Empress Emeritus for Life, the One and Only.

Because of my continued help, support, and dedication to the State of Montana I was given the Title of Queen Mother of the State of Montana by Queen Mother of the America’s Nicole the Great.

In the late 80’s and 90’s, I also ran my own amateur drag show weekly for any entertainer who wanted to join. Our nightclubs that I can remember were Dorothys, First Emperors Disco 425, Signatures, Buddies, Our Place, IRV’s.

I have been asked to be the mistress of ceremonies for many functions and coronations throughout the United States and travelled to Canada representing our organization. I have received Lifetime memberships from various Empires within the International Court System (ISC). I have been given the prestigious honor of being accepted into other Empire’s College of Monarch.

In 2013, I was so honored and was given the prestigious title of Queen Mother of Spokane and All Eastern Washington State by Queen Mother of the America’s Nicole the Great. At this juncture I hold 2 Queen Mother titles which I am very proud of.

Reaching back to the early days in the 1970’s Spokane would hold their coronations in the Grotto Hall in downtown Spokane. Later they were moved to the old Sheraton Hotel which is now the Double Tree Hotel. Spokane was still in the closet back then and WE had to use the back staircase of the hotel to get to the ballroom and were not allowed to go out through the lobby all dressed up. Of course, times have changed.

Later in the 1980’s we moved coronation the old Ridpath Hotel in downtown Spokane. It was a great set up for us. We used the motor inn part of the hotel, and the hotel was so gracious with us. Carl Naccarato was our main contact at the hotel for years and he was an inspiration to the organization, making sure we had a home to hold our event. For a few years we help our Gay Spokane Pageant at the Ridpath as well.

As the years went on we moved to various hotels in the city and most of the time our experience was favorable and a couple times not so favorable, but hey, that’s show biz kids.

Since 1992, Spokane has seen the LGBTQIA2S+ community come together to honor those brave individuals that fought back against the police raids in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York. The Stonewall Riots were a turning point for the gay rights movement. The following year, in 1970, the cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York all held parades commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Since then, cities around the globe have started marches and parades as well.

The first march in Spokane was on the sidewalks and was sponsored and coordinated by Spokane PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). The following year a permit was ordered, and the march was in the streets, followed by a small rally in the park. The motivation for organizing the Spokane Pride Parade and Festival remains the same to this day: we march for the visibility of LGBTQIA2S+ people and fight for the inclusion of all people and is coordinated by Spokane Pride. The parade and festival are yearly in June.

I don’t remember the year, sometime in the late 1990’s or early 2000’s, I was Grand Marshall for Spokane Pride parade and winner of the Rainbow Award.

I welcome everyone to get involved in any charity event that needs assistance.

Most Sincerely,

Queen Mother of All Montana, Queen Mother of Spokane and All Eastern Washington, Her Imperial Majesty Empress 16 of Spokane WA The Iconic and Legendary Eunice Kennady Smith