Day 13 of LGBTQ History Month
In the 1960s, San Jose drag performers only had an informal community. Together, they would travel up to San Francisco to world-famous drag shows. But everything changed once Ray Aguilar, a local drag queen, requested permission to form an IICS chapter in San Jose, which formed as Casa de San Jose of Santa Clara County Inc in the early 1970s. In 1990, the organization was reincorporated as The Imperial Royal Lion Monarchy, Inc. of San Jose. Casa de San Jose elected a full royal court every year: an emperor and empress, crown princes and princesses, czar and czarina, and grand dukes and duchesses.
The Imperial Court of San Jose was unique in that people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations were welcome to join. Any San Jose resident could vote for their favorites on the court. Winners were then escorted on stage to be crowned by the host emperor and empress.