Coco LaChine has been active in the lesbian and gay community in New York and California for over two decades and is also a well-known figure in the transgendered community nationwide.

Coco LaChine served on the board of directors of the International Court Council as its Chairperson, and the Imperial Court of New York for many years. Coco is one of the longest tenured Board Member of the NYC LGBT Community Services Center and has chaired their annual Garden Party for many years. She also served on the national boards of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), The Millennium March on Washington in 2000, and the Gay Games IV held in New York City in 1994.

In 1990, Coco LaChine help reorganize the Imperial Court of New York into a membership organization and served many years as its president. In 2003, the Imperial Court of New York renamed its student scholarship in her honor as the ICNY Empress Coco LaChine Student Scholarship. Coco is a recipient of the prestigious Jose Honors award, and was editor of the International Court Communique for a number of years. She  is currently the President of the Jose Honors Board of Governors. Empress Coco was also credited for her outstanding work in producing the 40th Anniversary celebration of the International Court System in Palm Springs, and is the co-chair of the 45th Anniversary clelebration in 2010.

In 1993, Coco LaChine was featured in the GLAAD Images campaign with her photo appearing in educational outreach posters in over 5,000 NYC subway cars for the entire month of June. When Coco was first approached to appear in this GLBT media awareness and education campaign, she thought it was a neat idea. However, on June 5th when she stepped into the #6 Subway train on her way to work, Coco was suddenly overcame with excitement, fear, anxiety and a host of other emotions and thought, "What have I done?" Coco received numerous anonymous calls that first week, many were verbally abusive and threatening. There were also many hang ups. But she also received twice as many calls from strangers who expressed their thanks and words of encouragement.  Today Coco counts her participation in the GLAAD Images campaign as one of the high points of her life.

Coco was the first drag personality to grace the cover of HX Magazine. Coco can be seen in recent hit movies such as “Flawless”, “To Wong Foo...Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar”, “Stonewall” the movie and “After Stonewall” the documentary. She has also been feature in countless transgender photo books, and many books on the LGBT community.

In 2001, Coco LaChine was among 20 national community leaders selected by the Gill Foundation to participate in the first ever GLBT Leadership Training Program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs, CO. In 1994, Coco was selected as one of OUT Magazine’s first Top 100 community leaders and has also been honored for her community service by the Lesbian & Gay Law Association, Asians & Friends, and All Out Arts, among others.

Coco LaChine has been involved in the direct marketing industry for over 20 years specializing in the gay market and is considered an authority. She has served as a consultant to countless Fortune 500 companies who wanted to target the gay market. She has extensive experience organizing large-scale special events, volunteer management, fundraising and development work.

In 2002, Coco’s professional career took her to California and she became quickly involved with the Imperial Court de San Diego. Her many years of support for the San Diego Court was recognized when she was bestowed the title of Honorary Empress de San Diego. She has hosted many fundraising events in San Diego, writes a column for the Gay & Lesbian Times and helped produced several San Diego coronations. Empress Coco moved to Los Angeles in 2006 with her company, and is currently involved with the Imperial Court of Hollywood/ Los Angeles and is an Honorary Empress. She currently serves as Secretary of the West Hollywood Transgender Task Force. Coco maintains her home in New York City as her primary residence.