The Lafayette Hotel ballroom was standing room only for the sold-out 43rd annual Coronation Ball of the Imperial Court de San Diego. Visiting LGBT royalty were in attendance from the International Imperial Court System, which has chapters in over 68 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The evening wear for this most regal affair was military uniforms, gowns and gloves, white tie and tails and crowns. San Diego happens to be the home of the titular leader of one of the oldest LGBT organizations in the world, that being City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez who nine years ago was crowned “Queen Mother of the Americas.” Nicole installed and invested her Privy Council, the International Court Council with much pomp and circumstance.
The national anthems of the U.S., Canada and Mexico were sung and the Very Reverend Penny Bridges, the first woman Dean of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral gave the benediction. The Imperial Court Council members were also in San Diego for a two-day meeting and announced that over $55,000 has so far been raised for the newly established Jose Julio Sarria and Nicole Murray Ramirez International GLBT Student Scholarship fund. California State Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins recognized the International Council members for their leadership and fundraising within their areas.
2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the Imperial Council of San Francisco founded by war veteran and the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in North America, Jose Julio Sarria. A gala state dinner will be held in the Rotunda of San Francisco’s City Hall Feb. 14.
This past Saturday’s Imperial Ball also marked the end of the year-long reign of San Diego’s 42nd elected monarchs: Emperor Robert Rodriguez and Empress Mia Pearl, who raised over $110,000.
Grants were given out at the event to Being Alive, The Fraternity House, The San Diego AIDS Memorial, OUT WITH IT! (an LGBT anti-domestic violence project), two Tijuana AIDS organizations and California Student Scholarships, which included 13-year-old recipient Zoe Luna, who recently was featured on an MTV special about the transgender community.
During the four-day weekend of activities in San Diego, out of state visitors attended numerous social events that raised thousands of dollars for the programs of the Court de San Diego. Special commendations were presented from Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Councilman Todd Gloria who praised the hard working court members for their “amazing charitable work that benefits so many.”
The annual Imperial Court Coronation Balls in the 1970s were the first “homosexual events” ever held in public hotels and also the first gay events attended by elected officials like the then State Assemblyman Peter Chacon and a school board member named Bob Filner.
San Diego’s newly elected Emperor and Empress XLIII are HIV-AIDS activist Mikie Too and entertainer Toni Saunders. Their first court meeting and new membership recruitment will be held Wednesday, Feb. 18 at The LGBT Center at 7:30 p.m. All interested San Diegans are invited to join. For further information, please contact Empress Toni Saunders at 619-517-9557, or Nicole Murray Ramirez at 619-692-1967.
isn’t mexico north america?