The tradition of the Court Systems in the gay communities of America started in 1965 in San Francisco when Jose Sarria began the International Imperial Court System. All Courts receive their charters from the International Court, and there are currently sixty-seven (70) local chapters in cities across the United States and Canada.

The Salt Lake City Chapter, the R.C.G.S.E., started in 1976 and is the longest-standing gay & lesbian non-profit fundraising organization in Utah.