The LGBT community’s oldest organization, The Imperial Court de San Diego, will be celebrating another successful year of “Noble Deeds” Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Marriott Hotel in Mission Valley. This royal event, that has become one of the longest LGBT traditions in San Diego, will elect San Diego’s 44th monarchs and celebrate the reign of Emperor XLIII Mikie Too and Empress XLIII Toni Saunders, which raised over $70,000 for charities, organizations, AIDS and civil rights causes.
The year’s reign has included producing the annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt, the Winter Blanket/Clothing Drive, the Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Dinner, the Toys for Kids Drive, the Nicky Awards and many other community projects. The San Diego Court also produced the historic, first City Hall Exhibit of a LGBT organization, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the international LGBT organization, with a two-week display at the downtown City Hall.
Feb. 6 will also mark the 10th anniversary of the crowning of San Diego Empress Nicole Murray Ramirez as the heir and successor of founder Empress Jose I. Empress Jose I, a World War II veteran, became the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in North America. The founding empress crowned Empress Nicole the Great as “Queen Mother I of the Americas” at a royal coronation held in Seattle, Washington.
At this year’s coronation event, the Court will take the opportunity to honor past monarchs. They will honor the popular Empress LaLa Too who was elected monarch 10 years ago. Additionally, a special tribute will be presented for the late Peacock Empress Summer Meadows (Kurt Cunningham).
The Court’s candidate for Emperor XLIV is James Von Rothschild and their candidates for Empress XLIV are Mama Cass and Jaeda Reign.
The Court will also give out their Harvey Milk/Nicole Murray Ramirez student scholarships, which was established in 1979, and is one of the oldest LGBT scholarships in the nation. As stated by the President of the Board of Directors Big Mike Phillips, “The over four decades of charity fundraising could not have been so successful were it not for the strong support of the LGBT community of San Diego.”
The San Diego Coronation weekend will include a two-day meeting of the International Imperial Court Council of U.S.A., Canada and Mexico presided over by Queen Mother I of the Americas, Empress Nicole the Great. The International Imperial Council just announced the $100,000 endowment of the International Jose Julio Sarria Scholarship program founded by the Queen Mother, in memory of the court system’s founder.
“San Diego’s Imperial Court is excited to once again host the Heirs and I.C.C.
members from all over Canada, Mexico and the U.S.A.” stated Nicole, who is also a City Commissioner.
The entire community is invited to this year’s Coronation Ball: “A Military Affair” which includes dinner, outstanding entertainment and remarkable pageantry. Tickets are $80 for general admission and $100 for VIP admission. The weekend will include special shows, brunches and a special Tijuana AIDS Task Force fundraiser. For more information please call (619) 254-6372, or visit www.imperialcourtsandiego.com
There are over 68 cities with Imperial Court Chapters in North America and Mexico.
