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SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE ANNOUNCES 2023 COMMUNITY GRAND MARSHALS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — 14 April 2023
SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE ANNOUNCES 2023 COMMUNITY GRAND MARSHALS
Six Community Grand Marshals to be honored at the 53rd Annual Event
San Francisco, CA – The 53rd Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade will be held on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25, 2023. The Parade/March is Sunday, June 25th in the heart of downtown San Francisco beginning at 10:30 AM. A two-day Celebration and Rally is scheduled from Noon to 6:00PM on Saturday, June 24th, and from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday, June 25th at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza and surrounding neighborhood.
“Pride was founded as a riot and has since evolved into a celebration, which is a powerful mode of collective resistance,” said Nguyen Pham, President of the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors.”We are thrilled to be celebrating these most honorable luminaries, all of whom reflect the evolution not only of the makeup of our community, but also of our broader movement and where we're going. The inclusivity of this group is an uplifting representation of our queer POC community especially. Given the tidal wave of bigotry in red states, namely the record number of anti-queer and anti-trans legislative actions, this cohort of our honorees is at the leading edge of our fight — against the hate.”
“Over the past 53 years, many leaders of the LGBTQ+ community have been recognized by San Francisco Pride. This year, our theme is looking back and moving forward. And we want to honor all the work that went before us. And we look forward to the new leaders that are emerging in the queer community,” acknowledged San Francisco Pride Executive Director, Suzanne Ford.
“Honey Mahogany and Breonna McCree are luminaries in the trans community and on a personal note, I'm proud that SF Pride is celebrating two phenomenal Black trans women whom I am honored to call friends,” said Ford.
Dr. Nas – Community Grand Marshal, selected by Public Vote
Dr. Nasser Mohamed was overwhelmingly chosen by the public for 2023 Community Grand Marshal. He is a Qatari physician and an LGBT rights activist. In 2022, he became the very first Qatari to publicly come out as an LGBT person during his international petition campaign "Love is Not a Crime," (https://campaigns.allout.org/qatar2022) which more people signed than the total number of those that physically attended the last game of the 2022 FIFA Soccer World Cup in Qatar.
“To be a Grand Marshal of the SF Pride is to tell all of those watching me in silence that their lives matter. It is telling them that they would be loved and accepted just as they are without needing to fragment themselves. It is establishing that LGBT individuals and their rights are universal and that we are all together in this fight for equality.”
Drag Story Hour – Community Grand Marshal, Organization, selected by Public Vote
Drag Story Hour (dragstoryhour.org) is just what it sounds like — storytellers using the art of drag to read books to kids in libraries, schools, and bookstores. DSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. We envision a world where kids can learn from LGBTQ+ stories and experiences to love themselves, celebrate the fabulous diversity in their communities, and stand up for what they believe in and each other.
“Being voted Grand Marshal is a great honor and privilege. It means the LGBTQ+ community sees us as role models to lead a celebration of our long history of struggles, triumphs, and ongoing fight for equality and acceptance. Drag On!” — Jonathan Hamilt, Executive Director
Honey Mahogany – Community Grand Marshal, selected by the SF Pride Membership
Honey Mahogany is a performer, small business owner, and activist who grew up in San Francisco and her social welfare work has earned her recognition from the City of San Francisco, the State of California, Sainthood from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, as well as awards from numerous organizations, including the Imperial Court of San Francisco,Harvey Milk Democratic Club, Trans Day of Visibility, and the Women's Foundation of California. Honey is a co-founder of the Transgeder District in SF, a founding queen of Drag Story Hour, co-owner of the Stud bar, and currently serves as Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party.
“It’s a huge honor to be chosen by SF Pride’s membership to be a Grand Marshal this year. As someone who grew up in San Francisco and has been participating in Pride for years, there is no greater honor. With the trans and drag communities under attack right now across the country, it’s wonderful to see those voices centered and uplifted in San Francisco’s Pride Celebration.”
Laura Lala-Chavez – Community Grand Marshal, selected by the SF Pride Board of Directors
Laura Lala-Chávez brings over 25 years' experience in youth development, counseling, and nonprofit management to LYRIC – a center for LGBTQQ+ youth. Laura is a bilingual, Trans, non-binary immigrant and first generation American. Raised between the border of the United States and Mexico, Laura would cross country lines every morning to attend school. As a person with multiple intersections, their lived experience fuels their passion for uplifting and empowering historically excluded youth, immigration justice and LGBTQ+ equality. They have personally mentored hundreds of marginalized youth navigating systems and services. A parent themselves, Laura believes every child should be resourced, affirmed, and celebrated.
“Pride means so many things to me. The meaning has grown and evolved from being a safe space to be authentic in my younger years to now being a place where I share the history and activism of our community as a parent with my kids. In our family, June is our favorite month of the year! I feel privileged to live in SF and be a part of such a vibrant LGBTQIA+ community here all year, but especially during Pride Month.”
Breonna McCree – Community Grand Marshal, selected by the SF Pride Board of Directors
Breonna McCree has worked on various behavioral intervention studies, informing health care providers and mental health professionals of the unique barriers that disproportionately impact her community. Currently working with, The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health at the University of California, San Francisco, as the Director of Community Engagement, she continues to develop and establish outreach, engagement, and community relation initiatives to promote community service programs for her trans and gender expansive tribe. Breonna envisions a safe and affirming world, free of all systems of oppression, where transgender and gender diverse communities are free to thrive.
“Pride allows my tribe to be their most authentic selves, and reminds me that love is universal and unconditional. As a Black woman of trans experience, Pride encourages me to stand against levels of violence, discrimination, and oppression for my gender-expansive community. My Pride means love, solidarity, community, and resistance.”
Paul Aguilar – Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal, selected by the SF Pride Board of Directors
In June 1981, 2 weeks before his 18th birthday, Paul Aguilar read about a mysterious disease killing young gay men, then in 1988, he tested positive for HIV. He began his community work volunteering at AIDS Dance-a-thon and AIDSWalk SF, continuing with Honoring Our Experience and the HIV Advocacy Network. Paul is a co-founding author of the San Francisco Principles 2020, a manifesto outlining the unmet needs of long-term survivors and is the Chair of the HIV Caucus of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club. He currently works as the Long-Term Survivor Community Liaison for the Aging Services department at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Paul lives at Marty’s Place (Affordable Housing Corporation), the only self-governing housing co-operative for people living with HIV and AIDS in the United States, as well as serves on their Board of Directors.
"Receiving Lifetime Achievement as a Community Grand Marshal for San Francisco Pride is something that I never expected. To be considered among the ranks of such icons as James Hormel, Cleve Jones, and Dr. Marcy Adelman is… well, let's face it, those are pretty big shoes to fill. I just hope to do them justice."
More information about our Community Grand Marshals can be found at sfpride.org/grand-marshals.
CALENDAR INFORMATION
Celebration and Rally
Civic Center Plaza
Saturday, June 24 | Noon to 6:00 PM
Sunday, June 25 | 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
53rd Annual SF Pride Parade and March
Sunday, June 25 | Starting at 10:30 AM
Along Market Street, from Beale to 8th Street
To register for the parade/march visit sfpride.org/register/.
For information on event tickets, as well as sponsor, exhibitor, advertising, membership, and donor opportunities visit sfpride.org or call (415) 864-0831.
The San Francisco Pride Celebration Committee is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded to produce the SF Pride Celebration and Parade. The mission of the organization is to educate the world on LGBTQ+ issues, as well as commemorate the heritage, celebrate the culture and liberate the people of all LGBTQ+ communities. A world leader in the Pride movement, SF Pride is also a grant-giving organization through its Community Partners Program. Since 1997, SF Pride has granted over $3 million dollars in proceeds to local non-profit LGBTQ+ organizations and organizations working on issues related to HIV/AIDS, cancer, homelessness, housing rights and animal welfare.
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