Principality of Urania
Principality of Urania | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
| Motto: "Unus Amor" "One Love" | |
| Anthem: "Tchaikovsky's Pas de Deux" | |
| Capital | Magnushalden |
| Official languages | English |
| Religion | Secular |
| Demonym(s) | Uranian |
| Government | Constitutional Monarchy |
• Prime Minister | None |
• Sovereign | Princess George I |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Establishment | 2018 |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.05 km2 (1.56 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2019 census | 6 |
| Currency | Thebe |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
The Principality of Urania was a small micronation enclaved by the United Kingdom. It claimed to be the only LGBT homeland since the dissolution of the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands in 2017. It seems to have gone defunct in July 2019.
Etymology
Urania is a backformation of "Uranian", a 19th-century term that referred to a person of a third sex — originally, someone with "a female psyche in a male body" who is sexually attracted to men; later extended to cover homosexual, gender-variant females and a number of other sexual types. The term was first promulgated by activist Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (1825–95) in a series of five booklets (1864–65) collected under the title Forschungen über das Räthsel der mannmännlichen Liebe (Research into the Riddle of Man–Male Love). Ulrichs derived Uranian (Urning in German) from the Greek goddess Aphrodite Urania, who was created out of the god Uranus' testicles. Therefore, it represents the homosexual gender, while Dionian (Dioning), derived from Aphrodite Dionea, represents the heterosexual gender. Ulrichs developed his terminology before the first public use of the term "homosexual".
History
Formation
The Principality of Urania was founded on the 26th December 2018 by Princess George I, with the Uranian Declaration. The Princess, a gay teenager who was disgruntled with the lack of a unifying pan-LGBT movement, sought to establish a micronation with the aim of promoting LGBT rights, issues, and culture in the international sphere. It took inspiration from some of the cultural works of historical homosexuals, like Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (1825–95), George Cecil Ives (1867–1950), and Oscar Wilde (1854–1900); as well as the Order of Chaeronea. The Uranian Constitution was later passed and ratified on the 31st December 2018. In the following days, the Principality expanded to claim The Summer Palace, Ives' Palace, and Ulrichs' Fort.
The Vexillum Affair
On the 13th February, 2018, a diplomatic dispute began between the Principality and the Republic of Voslage, arising from the Republic's introduction of a policy to ban "Traps and Transexual People" (sic) for being "Mentally Unstable". The Principality hit back, declaring an end to all recognition, diplomatic ties, and discourse with the Republic. Several allies of the Principality, including the United Peoples State of Sartonia and the People's Republic of Victoriam, joined Urania in the dispute. On the 15th February, the Republic dropped the policy, but the Principality of Urania never again resumed recognition or diplomacy with the Republic.
Chechen Crisis
In January 2019, following news breaking of a resurgence of the anti-gay purges in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, the Principality reoriented its foreign policy in an aim to demand answers and find solutions to the crisis. Working with AllOut, an LGBT Charity, the Principality aimed to fundraise for efforts to help extract LGBT Chechens. On the 14th March 2019, Princess went to the closest Russian Embassy to the Principality, demanding an explanation of what was happening and what was being done to tackle it.
The Federal Days
On the 7th April, the Princess ordered the Democracy Review, aimed at increasing the involvement of Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender identities within the Principality, in an effort to try and balance out the dominance of Gays within the nation. The evening following this review, Princess dissolved the Principality of Urania to form the Federation of Uranian States -- a UAE-inspired solution to the imbalance. This was later deemed to be "an abject failure" by the Princess, who fully repealed the decision a mere 20 days later, thus returning to the prior status quo as the Principality of Urania.
Geography
The Principality claimed a 10.05 km² of land, an enclave surrounded by the British counties of Surrey and Essex. However, over half of this land (including Ulrichs' Fort, the Principality's only access to the sea) was disputed with the United Kingdom and was not under direct control by the Principality of Urania, which lacked the capacity and resources needed to secure and maintain those portions of the claim. Accordingly, the Principality was considered to be de facto land-locked.
Capital
The capital of Urania was Magnushalden, and was founded on 24 March 2019, when the Principality extended its claims beyond Ives' Palace and into the surrounding area. This expansion was intended to reflect the personal use of the land by Princess George I and the high density of LGBT people in the immediate area. Magnushalden, (literally, Magnus' Hillside) is named after Magnus Hirschfeld (1868–1935), founder of the Institute of Sexual Research and the Scientific Humanitarian Committee, which was the first LGBT advocacy group in the World.
Politics
Political Philosophy
Urania claimed to be an LGBT homeland, akin to the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands which was dissolved in 2017 by Emperor Dale I. Consequently, Urania adopted a system similar to Israel's Law of Return, entitling anyone who identifies as LGBT to Uranian citizenship. Whilst Urania did not explicitly ban heterosexual/cisgendered individuals, and they could (like LGBT people) visit with no need for a visa or application, applications for citizenship by "cis/het" people were reviewed by the Government rather than being given an instant greenlight. This replected the Principality's pro-LGBT political mindset, and its aim of furthering LGBT causes within and beyond Urania.
Government
Urania was an elective monarchy, with the Monarch elected annually. In an homage to old Drag culture, the Monarch takes the pronouns opposite to their identifying gender. Despite being biologically a male, for example, George I is a Princess, rather than a Prince.
The seat of Government was the National Parliament, located in Ives' Palace. Urania had a bicameral system, with the Lower Chamber directly elected biannually by and from its citizens, and the Upper Chamber being staffed by nobles, who were appointed by the Monarch. The Upper Chamber was limitless in size; the Lower Chamber was capped at 20 seats and elected proportionally. Of the 20 seats, one member of parliament was elected Chamberal Speaker, and the leader of the largest party became Prime Minister. The leader of the second largest party was named Leader of the Opposition. This National Parliament was the only administrative body within the Principality.
Due to Urania's small size, there were never any members of Parliament.
Judiciary
The Supreme Court of Urania was comprised of 3 Justices: the President of the Supreme Court, appointed by the Monarch; and two Deputy-Presidents, appointed by the President of the Supreme Court. It was the ultimate, and only, source of legal authority within the Principality of Urania. The legal system of Urania was a Common Law system, similar to that of the United Kingdom.
Sovereign
The head of state was Her Royal Excellency, Princess George I. She was the first Sovereign of Urania. The full styled title of Princess George was Her Royal Excellency, Princess of the Uranians, George I, GMSO IC.
| Picture | Name | Reign | Awards and Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Princess George I | 26 December 2018 - 7 April 2019 / 26th April 2019 - Current | IC (Ives Cross), Grand Mistress of the Sacred Order of Chaereona (GMSO) |
Culture
Urania largely adopted modern LGBT culture, language, slang, and customs.
The Sacred Order of Chaeronea
The Sacred Order of Chaeronea was an honourary award in Urania, created by the First Royal Decree of Princess George I. Membership was awarded by the Sovereign, who was automatically the Grand Master or Grand Mistress, in return for notable deeds, efforts, or general commendation. While membership of the Order was not strictly limited to LGBT people, the most senior roles (Commander of the Sacred Order (CSO) and High General of the Sacred Order (HGSO)) were reserved for LGBT people only, citizens or otherwise. The Sovereign could increase a member's rank or decrease it by decree.
Ranks
- Knight of the Sacred Order (KSO), an award given to notable individuals. It is the lowest rank, and available to LGBT and non-LGBT people alike.
- Captain of the Sacred Order (CPSO), is one rank higher than Knight, for especially-distinguished individuals, both LGBT and non-LGBT alike.
- Commander of the Sacred Order (CSO), is the third-highest rank of the Sacred Order, reserved only for LGBT people. It commends exceptional work toward the benefit of the Principality of Urania.
- High General of the Sacred Order (HGSO) is the second-highest rank of the Sacred Order, limited only to LGBT citizens of Urania (unlike the Ives Cross). This rank is awarded for exceptional work for the LGBT cause or interests at home or abroad.
- Grand Master/Mistress of the Sacred Order (GMSO) is the leading rank of the Sacred Order of Chaeronea, with the power to award lower ranks. It is held exclusively by the Sovereign.
Economy
The monetary symbol was the Thebe (ᐁ), which takes it name from the Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite ancient unit of same-sex lovers who were killed at the Battle of Chaeronea. This is also an homage to the pink triangle, a symbol once used to identify homosexuals during the Holocaust. The sole fractional unit of Thebes was a cent, with 100 cents forming one Thebe.