On Saturday, Aug. 7, the Imperial Court de San Diego will host its 33rd annual coronation ball to crown Emperor and Empress XXXIII. The reign of Emperor XXXII Robi Cox and Empress XXXII Cristina Monet raised over $85,000 for charity.

“This has once again been another successful year for the Imperial Court and our hard working board of directors,” said Linda Childers, president of the Imperial Court.

Agencies that received Imperial Court grants this year included: The Center, the Alano Club, APICAP, Bienestar, the Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego, the GLBT Student Scholarship Fund, the Toni Atkins Lesbian Health Fund, the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, the GLBT Vote 2004 registration drive, Equality California, and the Tijuana AIDS Fund, which provided funeral assistance and cremation for eight deceased individuals whose families could not be located.

“The entire community is invited to this Saturday’s 32nd coronation event,” said Nicole Murray-Ramirez, chair of the Imperial Court de San Diego and president of the International Court of the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico. “This is the community’s chance to say thank you to our emperor and empress and the court, and bravo for a job well done.”

The Imperial Court is one of the oldest GLBT organizations in the nation. Since the local chapter’s founding in 1972 by local businessman Darl Edwards, the Imperial Court de San Diego has raised money for and issued grants to numerous other GLBT and GLBT-friendly organizations, as well as to AIDS agencies and charities outside of the GLBT community. The International Court of the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico raises millions of dollars annually.

The crowning of Emperor and Empress XXXIII, Chris Horton and La La Too, begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Wyndham Emerald Plaza Hotel, located at 400 W. Broadway. Call (619) 229-2822 or (619) 303-2384 for information and tickets.