Visiting GLBT activists from nearly 70 cities within the United States, Canada and Mexico will converge on the city when San Diego hosts the official opening of the first session of the International Court System’s Parliament on Saturday, Aug. 2, at The San Diego LGBT Community Center.

Additionally the Imperial Court de San Diego’s will host the 37th annual Coronation Ball: “A Military Affair,” later that night at the Westin Hotel Horton Plaza.

“The organization’s Parliament will make the system more of a democratic monarchy and will give each respective Court a voice within the organization,” said City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez.

Murray-Ramirez, known as Empress Nicole the Great and the Queen Mother of the Americas, heads the 65 chapter strong International Imperial Court System of U.S.A., Canada and Mexico.

“Each chapter of the International Court System elected a representative and an alternate to Parliament,” he said.

The International Court System is one of the oldest GLBT organizations in the world founded in 1965 by World War II veteran Jose Sarria, who announced his decision to step down after 42 years of leading the international charitable organization.

Sarria, who was also the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in the United States, named Murray-Ramirez as his successor in Seattle in August 2006.

Since taking the helm, the Queen Mother has brought many changes to the organization, which has raised millions of dollars annually for religious and social service organizations throughout the years.

Empress Nicole in the position of Queen Mother of the Americas will officiate at the opening ceremonies and preside over the first session of the new Parliament. The Queen Mother has also appointed a prime minister, speaker of parliament and executive secretary, to the new governing body of the organization.

“Our most significant accomplishments in the past several years has been the ability for all the chapters of the International Imperial Court System to communicate with each other via the Internet,” said Thom Hansen, who is known as Empress Panzie from New York in his official capacity in the International Imperial Court System.

“The Queen Mother’s establishment of Parliament is the first step to making sure that the entire Court System has a voice in the organization,” said Hansen, who serves as the president of the International Court Council (ICC), which is the governing body of the court system.

The parliament will serve as the voice of the people from all the Imperial Court’s kingdoms – or chapters – throughout the three countries, he explained.

While Hansen will not have an official role in the Parliament system, he said that he is excited to be in San Diego to be a witness to the organization’s historic meeting.

“From the perception of the members of parliament, it will give the Court a better understanding of how the entire Court system is operating. It will also allow members of the ICC to hear the concerns from the majority of the kingdoms,” Hansen said.

Locally, The Imperial Court de San Diego’s elected representative to the Parliament system is Chris Grinston, with the alternate being former Mr. San Diego Leather, Adam Latham.

Since the Queen Mother has taken the leadership role in the organization, the International Imperial Court System, has signed accords with the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, as well as a gay and lesbian rights organization in Canada.

At the opening session of Parliament, the Court will sign an accord with the Matthew Shepard Foundation on behalf of the ICC.

Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and the founder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, will be the keynote speaker during the opening session.

Shepard will also be the special guest of honor at the Imperial Court de San Diego’s 37th annual Coronation Ball: “A Military Affair,” to be held Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Westin Hotel Horton Plaza.

““The coronation is always full of colorful pageantry, outstanding entertainment and this year promises to be even more exciting,” said “Big” Mike Phillips, president of the Imperial Court de San Diego.

“We are excited to be the host to the representatives from throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, and also to have the honor of Judy Shepard to be our guest at the annual coronation ball,” he said.

VIP and dinner tickets for the Imperial Court de San Diego’s 37th annual Coronation Ball are sold out, but general admission tickets are still available. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door.

For more information about the opening session of parliament or the Imperial Court de San Diego’s 37th annual coronation, call 619-478-2507, 619-254-6372 or 619-692-1967.