• ImpiricalCourtMembersenjoyingDerbyDay
    Imperial Court Members enjoying Derby Day. Photo by Vern Hester
  • amemberparticipatinginFifisAnnualDerbyAffairatCharliess
    Participating in Fifi’s Annual Derby Affair at Charlies’s. Photo by Vern Hester
  • ImpiricalCourtmembersfromleftGaryChichesterandrightDuWayneNesbitwithfriendatFifisDerbyAffair
    Imperial Court members, from left Gary Chichester and right DuWayne Nesbit with friend at Fifi’s Derby Affair. Photo by Vern Hester
  • postingthehorseracesatFifisAnnualDerbyAffair
    Posting the horse races at Fifi’s Annual Derby Affair. Photo by Vern Hester
  • ImpiricalCourtmembersKevinBrysonandGaryChichester
    Imperial Court members Kevin Bryson and Gary Chichester. Photo by Vern Hester
On the afternoon of May 6, the Chicago Imperial Court held Fifi’s Annual Derby Day, a fundraiser and celebration of the Kentucky Derby. The event took place at Charlie’s, with the Trevor Project and the Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame as beneficiaries.

The afternoon-long event featured jockey roulette, steeple chase races, and win, place, and show competitions, while the actual Derby played on television screens. Empress Fifi DePraved, the current Empress 18 for the Windy City Imperial Court, wowed participants with her coronation finery and served as emcee and merry maker for the event.

The Imperial Court is the second-oldest LGBTQ organization in the world with branches in Canada, Mexico and throughout the United States, and holds fundraising events for service organizations in need. The organization was established in 1965.

Apart from fundraising, the organization participated in the “Get Out the Vote” voter registration campaign of 2008, supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (EDNA), and had a hand in presenting “Stonewall 40-Trans Heroes 40,” in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Last year, the Court gave over $88,000 in scholarships, and is currently taking leadership in the Harvey Milk National Stamp Campaign.

For more information on the Court go to http://www.imperialcourtofchicago.org.