The year reign of Empress XLI Candi Samples and the Imperial Court de San Diego will come to an end Feb. 8 at the Lafayette Hotel when the new emperor and empress will be elected and crowned.
The Imperial Court, Empress XLI Candi Samples and the board of directors have been responsible for giving out more than $80,000 to numerous non-profit charities and causes during the year. Organized in 1972, The Imperial Court de San Diego is probably one of the oldest gay organizations in the country; its first Coronation Ball was held in 1973.
The San Diego chapter is a member of the International Court System of the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico which now has chapters in more than 68 cities within the three nations.
The International Court System was founded by the late Jose Julio Sarria, who reigned for more than 40 years until 2007 when San Diego City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez (AKA: the Queen Mother of the Americas) succeeded Sarria as the international chair/ executive director and absolute monarch of the court system.
The Imperial Court de San Diego has played a major pioneering role in the establishment of the GLBT Community of San Diego. The Imperial Court provided seed money for such organizations as The San Diego LGBT Center, San Diego Pride, AIDS Walk, Mama’s Kitchen and Being Alive.
The XLI Imperial Court has distributed more than $80,000 through many of their court programs such as the Eddie Conlon Youth Fund, the Harvey Milk/ Nicole Murray Ramirez Student Scholarship Fund (founded in 1979), the Toni Atkins Lesbian Health Fund, the Tijuana AIDS Fund, the Ben F. Dillingham Community Grant, the Scott Carlson Community Thanksgiving Dinner, the Community Children’s Easter Egg hunt and the Toys for Kids Drive (founded in 1975). It is important to note that no Imperial Court chapter has paid staff or offices and that the organization is all volunteer.
“The annual success of the Imperial Court would not happen without the countless volunteers and donors,” stated City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez.
“For more than 40 years the Imperial Court has been able to count on the generosity of our bars, businesses and community members. We are and always will be grateful for such a supportive community,” continued Murray Ramirez.
San Diego’s first elected emperor is local businessman Omar Lorey. Empress I Tawny Tann succumbed to AIDS. “Emperor I Omar and Empress II Toby will be special guests along with Interim Mayor Todd Gloria at our upcoming 42nd annual Coronation Ball,” stated Court President Allan Spyere. “The entire community is welcome to attend and celebrate another year of noble deeds.”
The three candidates for the upcoming XLII reign are Robert Rodriguez for emperor and Miss Pearl and Toni Saunders for empress. Join the Imperial Court Feb. 8, 5 p.m. at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego. For tickets and more information please visit http://www.imperialcourtsandiego.com/ or call (619)254-6372.
