Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1939, ted stayed in the area to attend school and grow up. His family was unconditional in their support of ted even after coming out as homosexual in a time where it was a criminal act. In 1958 he moved to Vancouver and started protesting homosexuality being a criminal thing, always appearing in drag. ted northe wound up on the steps of the provincial court/art gallery in full drag holding a sign that said “I am a human being”. In this daring act, he was joined by 4 supporters, only 4.
ted northe continued protests through the late 1950s and early 1960s. In around the early 1960s ted briefly moved to the USA, participating in the LGBTQ communities all up and down the west coast. Most notably ted northe was in San Francisco to see the formation of the Imperial Court System (more on that in a little bit, I promise!) by Mama Jose (Jose Sarria). Returning to Vancouver, ted ramped up the protests. They were small and localized but also generated talk. Talk about whether the charges of “deviancy” and “buggery” were warranted. In the protests, always a lady prepared, ted was sure to sport the “required pieces of men’s clothing on his person. This was accomplished by stuffing his bra with men’s socks, a pair in each cup and wearing men’s underwear! This persistence and cheek was how ted made a splash, and it made it possible for the tide to turn. Continuing protests that just skated the line into the late 1960s, ted made sure everyone “just” skated the line, wearing 3 articles of men’s clothing. Then ted made a pivot, one I think came from his small- town upbringing. He started letter writing campaigns. Successful ones. I want you to think of this, kids and others, he tracked down members of parliament, court officials, law professors, and police advocates with NO national databases. No email or social media accounts. Just determination to be heard. Small town networking on a national scale. It just boggles my mind, to be honest. Did I say they were successful campaigns? Because they were so successful and he had been so dogged in his determination, that it ended up culminating in the Criminal Law Amendment Act (Bill C-150), passed on May 14, 1969, which decriminalized homosexual acts between consenting adults in private by amending the Criminal Code provisions on buggery and gross indecency. This decriminalized homosexuality in Canada. After this, the Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau (Justin’s Dad) would call ted “Your Majesty” to acknowledge ted’s efforts and his title as “Empress of Canada”.
Why Empress of Canada, I hear you ask? Well, good question. Remember the Imperial Court System? That is an association of drag organizations that conduct shows, events, and outreach in charitable form across the North American Continent (and possibly beyond, I’m talking certain areas today). ted was in Portland Oregon and was crowned Empress of Canada in 1964, taking ted from a single performer and activist to a refined station. It’s at this time ted stylized his name with no capital letters. He wanted to downplay himself in efforts he felt far bigger than just himself. In 1971, he founded the Dogwood Monarchist Society, the Vancouver chapter of the International Imperial Court System. They were responsible for sponsoring the first Vancouver Pride Parade, gay sports leagues, disaster relief funds, and collaborations like the first openly gay breast cancer fundraiser with lesbians. By institutionalizing drag as a vehicle for fundraising and social support, northe's model empowered local movements, enhancing resilience and public acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities beyond legal battles They still exist today and are the second largest LGBTQIA2 charity in Canada. ted’s involvement raised an estimated 10 million dollars in his lifetime at the Imperial Court. This provides funding for housing, medical needs, scholarships and bursaries, Christmas dinners for the community, youth outreach, safe sex initiatives, HIV/AIDS outreach. ted northe received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2013 for his long-standing contributions to Canadian society through activism and community service.[8] He was also awarded the Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian and Distinguished Citizen Award for his charitable efforts, particularly in supporting marginalized communities. Within the drag communities he was awarded the Imperial Sovereign Court System International's Jose Honor for lifetime commitment and achievements. In 2017, ted northe lane was designated in Vancouver. His work laid groundwork for inclusive community initiatives, such as the Greater Vancouver Native Cultural Society for two-spirited people, extending impact to Indigenous LGBTQ+ subgroups. While centered in Vancouver, these efforts catalyzed national dialogue, earning posthumous recognition like Vancouver's 2023 declaration of September 13 as "Ted Northe Day." ted northe died on March 30, 2014, at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the age of 74, following a prolonged battle with cancer. According to accounts from friends present in his final days, northe passed peacefully in the early morning hours.
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