2015 Parade Grand Marshals and Parade Marshals Announced

Erica

Boston Pride announced Parade Grand Marshals: Erica Kay-Webster (pictured right) , David V. Bermudez, and Samuel Brinton.

 

(Boston, MA) March 26, 2015 – The Boston Pride announced today that the late Mayor Thomas M. Menino has been named the Honorary Marshal of the 45th Anniversary- #WickedProud Annual Pride Parade to be held on Saturday, June 13, 2015. Boston Pride also announced Parade Grand Marshals: Erica Kay-Webster, David V. Bermudez, and Samuel Brinton and Parade Marshals: Ellyn Ruthstrom and Woody Glenn.

The Boston Pride Parade is a march to celebrate and promote equal rights for the region’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities and is the premier event of Pride Week.  As one of the most popular Pride Parades in the country, organizations and individuals  from around New England and beyond will walk together to advocate for inclusivity, equality and respect.  The theme of the Boston Pride Parade this year is “45th Anniversary- #WickedProud” to celebrate the LGBT community’s four-plus decades of fighting for inclusiveness, diversity and equality.

State

State Street Global Pride and Friends won the award for Best Float. Hector Dimaunahan accepted the award.

“We are honored to name our late Mayor Menino as this year’s Honorary Marshal in celebration of our 45th anniversary,” said Sylvain Bruni, President of Boston Pride. “Mayor Menino was a longtime friend of Boston Pride and a tireless ally of the LGBT community, ensuring that our city was both a safe and inclusive place to live and work. Boston Pride will always be grateful for his friendship and proven leadership.”

Boston Pride also announced the 2014 Parade Awards: BSL Awareness Walks for Best Marching Group, DotOut for Best Adaptation of theme and State Street Global Pride and Friends for Best Float.

Grand Marshals

Erica Kay-Webster, a resident of Marstons Mills, Mass., is a veteran of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, is one of the most celebrated transgender women for her continued devotion to human rights advocacy through the Foundation for International Justice and development of Promise Place School, a residential school for homeless LGBT youth.

David V. Bermudez, of Cape Cod, is a member of the Stonewall Veterans’ Association. David, a lifelong LGBT rights advocate, became the first Stonewall Rebellion veteran to be legally married in a same-gender marriage on the 35th anniversary date of the Stonewall Rebellion.

Samuel Brinton, of Washington, DC, has been a crusader for making conversion therapy for minors illegal. A Recent MIT graduate, he has given talks to Google and the United Nations as part of the #BornPerfect campaign. In 2014, Samuel spoke to the Annual World Conference of InterPride, the international association of Pride organizers, to bring the spotlight on the devastating impact of conversion therapy and urge Prides around the world to join the fight against this practice.

Parade Marshals

DotOut

DotOut won the Boston Pride award for Best Adaptation of the Theme. Accepting the award (L to R) Marie McRae, Chris McCoy and Matt Duffy .

Ellyn Ruthstrom, of Melrose, Mass.  is a writer, editor and spokesperson for the Bisexual Resource Center.  Ellyn honorably served for ten years as Board President of the Bisexual Resource Center (BRC), the oldest U.S. bi-specific national organization that raises awareness about bisexuality, produces resources and provides support to the bisexual community. In 2013, Ellyn co-facilitated the first White House Roundtable on Bisexual Issues and initiated the founding of the Bisexual Leadership Roundtable, a networking space for bisexual activists and writers across the U.S.

Woody Glenn, of Somerville, Mass. helped found what was then the East Coast Bisexual Network and went on to help it become a 501©3 and eventually change its name to the Bisexual Resource Center. His early leadership also helped establish the Boston Bisexual Men’s Network and helped to make Boston one of the most supportive and vibrant bisexual cities in the country.

Stay up to date with more information by visiting and following Boston Pride on Facebook and Twitter.

Ellen

Boston Pride President Sylvain Bruni honors Woody Glenn (left) and Ellyn Ruthstrom (right) as 2015 Parade Marshals.

About Boston Pride

Boston Pride produces events and activities to achieve inclusivity, equality, respect, and awareness in Greater Boston and beyond. Fostering diversity, unity, visibility and dignity, we educate, communicate and advocate by building and strengthening community connections.

Kicking off June 5 through June 14, Boston Pride will host ten days of events and activities that bring people together from all walks of life to celebrate diversity. Opening with the Annual Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall, Pride Week 2015 will also include the Boston Pride Gala, Pride Day @ Faneuil Hall, the Pride Diplomatic Reception, the Human Rights Forum, Queeraoke, Pride Night @ Fenway Park, the Boston Pride Festival and Parade, the Pride Youth Dance, the Back Bay Block Party, and the JP Block Party.  The theme of this year’s Pride celebration is “45th Anniversary – #WickedProud.”