[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10185]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           TRIBUTE TO THE ICS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 2010

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize 
the International Court System (ICS) as it celebrates the 45th 
anniversary of its founding. A non-profit charity and international 
social service organization, ICS is one of the oldest LGBT charities in 
the world, with chapters in over 68 cities within the United States, 
Canada, and Mexico.
  ICS fundraising efforts have benefited countless causes both within 
and outside of the LGBT community including numerous children's 
charities, AIDS organizations, and cancer patient advocacy groups. In 
fact, several AIDS social service organizations were established in the 
1980's by organization members. In addition, there are over 30 student 
scholarship programs within the International Court System of the 
United States and Mexico. The ICS welcomes all and is proud of its 
diversity.
  The first ICS chapter was established in 1965 in San Francisco, 
California by World War II veteran and Hispanic gay activist, Jose 
Julio Sarria. In 1961, he made history as the first openly gay citizen 
to run for public office in North America when he ran for the San 
Francisco Board of Supervisors. For his activism, the Board named a 
public street in his honor.
  In 2007, Sarria stepped down as titular leader of the International 
Court System and was succeeded by my constituent, San Diego City 
Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez who himself has been a Latino and 
gay activist for over 40 years. Commissioner Ramirez currently serves 
on the board of the National Gay Lesbian Task Force and is a past 
national board member of the Human Rights Campaign. Ramirez is a 
recipient of the Cesar Chavez Social Justice Award and is currently the 
National Co-Chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation's Citizen Advisory 
Board.
  I commend Jose Julio Sarria and Nicole Murray Ramirez for their 
dedication and community service that has benefitted so many. I 
congratulate the ICS on the occasion of its 45th anniversary, and I am 
proud to honor its legacy of activism and philanthropy.

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