San Francisco residents may wonder why each year they're bombarded by signs that say "Vote for Me for Emperor (or Empress)" - since that's typically not how Emperors and Empresses are chosen.
But the pleas are from candidates who are vying for the annual crowns bestowed by the Imperial Court of San Francisco - the oldest surviving LGBT charity organization in the United States.
For nearly 50 years, the Imperial Council has been raising money for LGBT causes -- to battle discrimination, HIV/AIDS, and homelessness. According to the Imperial Council's recent video, there are now 68 similar courts worldwide today.
Documentary filmmakers David Lassman and Jethro Patalinghug have captured the Imperial Court's history in their film 50 Years of Fabulous and they're currently seeking support to complete the film's post-production.
For information about the Imperial Council of San Francisco, go here.
For information about the film, and how you might support it, go here.
50 Years of Fabulous: The Imperial Council Story Trailer from Jethro Cuenca Patalinghug on Vimeo.