Fabulous outfits, stellar wigs, pulsating lights, and the ability to lip synch to rhythmic music are the tools drag queens throughout the world rely on. Looking good is paramount for most tape- and corset-wearing drag queens. But for members of the Imperial Court de San Diego, regality, noble contributions and funds raised for the GLBT community take precedence over wobbling into a room in a pair of stilettos and a rhinestone tiara.

“The Imperial Court is about much more than just drag queens dressing up and doing good,” said City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez, who has been involved in the court since it originated 35 years ago and now serves as Queen Mother of the Americas for the 68-chapter strong International Imperial Court System of the United States, Canada and Mexico. “It’s about how we make others feel, and how we help the entire San Diego community, not just the GLBT community,” he said, noting that drag queens constitute approximately 30 percent of the Imperial Court’s members.

The court system is the second-largest GLBT organization in the world, with the first being the Metropolitan Community Church. It is organized similarly to an Elks or Shriners Club, as a philanthropic organization with a network of chapters.

The local chapter of the court, the Imperial Court de San Diego, will celebrate its 36th annual coronation at the Westin Hotel Horton Plaza on Saturday, Aug. 4. At the gala, the annually elected emperor and empress de San Diego, as they are referred to, who serve as co-chairs, will be announced. The event will also feature the investiture of the Queen Mother of the America’s heirs, who will serve as the governing body of the greater organization.

“While the Christian right often focuses efforts on shedding a bad light on the GLBT community, they often overlook … the large amount of ‘God’s work’ that members of our community are doing,” said “Big Mike” Phillips, a local activist who said he has witnessed the generosity of the local court chapter first hand. “The Imperial Court de San Diego is a fine example of such work. They feed the hungry, clothe the poor and give to everyone, as they did me when I had cancer and was struggling to make ends meet.”

The California Assembly, the San Diego City Council, and many other governmental bodies, agencies and organizations have honored the court for its long and distinguished record of community service.

“Whether it was raising money for HIV/AIDS, lesbian health, youth, families, coming out, same-sex relationship violence victims or human rights programs, the court has been at the forefront and helping,” said The Center’s Chief Executive Officer Delores Jacobs, who noted the court has been critical to The Center since it began three decades ago.

“The court raised the money for the first answering machine in Jess Jessop’s home, when The Center was nothing more than a phone line,” Murray-Ramirez said.

Founded by Darl Edwards in 1971, the local chapter sponsored shows in bars in early years and crowned its first emperor, Omar, and empress, Tawny Tawn, in 1973. Initial events benefited causes such as the Jerry Lewis Telethon and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Any San Diego County resident who attends the coronation may cast a vote for this year’s emperor or empress, and the monarchs, who will guide the court through its fund-raising efforts throughout their reign which lasts until the next coronation.

Murray-Ramirez served his first reign as Empress IV and came to be known as Empress Nicole the Great. He took on the title and role as Queen Mother last year after José Sarria, the international organization’s founder, also known as José I, the Widow Norton, announced his decision to step down after 42 years of leading the non-profit organization.

“I’m proud to be able to say, with all due respect to José I, [that] for the first time this will be the most diverse court council there has ever been in the 43-year history of the court,” the Queen Mother said. There will be more representation from Canada and the leather community, as well as more women, people of color and transsexuals.

“I want to build a bridge to the younger generation,” he said, pointing out that the average age of the new council will be mid-30s.

Murray-Ramirez also called this a “renaissance period” for the court system, in which he foresees many exciting changes. He has recently established allegiance with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and plans to do the same with GLBT rights organizations in Canada and Mexico.

“But the truth is that the court is much more than Nicole and it’s much more than an emperor or empress,” the Queen Mother said. “I have the honor, often times, of presenting the check, but the unsung heroes of the court are the people who are coming through the door buying the tickets, those at the door collecting tickets, those who are giving their time performing on stage, and everyone behind the scenes who so generously give their time and money to raise the funds for the organizations we benefit. The backbone of the court is all the volunteers who do it on their own and give from the love in their heart for the countless causes we support.”

For more information about the upcoming coronation, call 619-692-1967. For more information on the court system visit, www.imperialcourtsandiego.com.