Vote for the 2013 Boston Pride Marshals!
Thank you to everyone who submitted Boston Pride Grand and Honorary Marshal Nominees- Now it is time to cast your vote! Remember when voting to consider how each finalist illustrates the 2013 Pride Theme “Moving Forward…Proud, Strong, United.”
The polls are open until May 15! Vote Here
A litte bit about the nominees:
Grand Marshals
Black and Pink
Black & Pink is an open family of LGBTQ prisoners and “free world” allies who support each other. Their work toward the abolition of the prison industrial complex is rooted in the experience of currently and formerly incarcerated people. The organization is outraged by the specific violence of the prison industrial complex against LGBTQ people, and they respond through advocacy, education, direct service, and organizing.
Jim Clerkin
Jim Clerkin is the Producer for hit radio show, Matty in the Morning and the Music Director for Kiss 108 and Evolution 101.7. Jim has been a volunteer as a DJ and Emcee for many LGBT Events in the Community.
Lillian Gonzalez
Early in her career Lillian lost employment due to her sexual orientation. She is proud to be the founder of Gonzalez and Associates, a place where she could openly be herself and continue to provide service to members of her community. The firm’s main focal point has always been same sex couples and she has created an accounting practice that considers the economic needs of people who span the broadest extent of lifestyle and financial resources, while creating a safe, open, and inclusive environment for clients and staff. Gonzalez and Associates have been sponsors of many LGBT Events in our Community including Latino Pride.
Erica Kay Webster
Erica Kay-Webster is an Author, a Human Rights Activist and an acclaimed Public Speaker. Webster is one of the earliest Transgenders in the United States to undergo gender reassignment surgery in 1968 and a veteran and survivor of The Stonewall Rebellion in New York City in 1969, which was the beginning of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement. On September 11, 2013 Erica will lead a march from Ground Zero in New York City to The United Nations for a presentation of Bhutanese-style Prayer Flags to members of theUnited Nations, in honor of
Mayor Thomas M. Menino
A national leader on neighborhood issues, Mayor Thomas M. Menino believes that government is about helping people. Elected five times as Mayor of Boston and five times as a City Councilor from Hyde Park, he has spent a lifetime building a better Boston for residents and businesses. Mayor Menino has always served as a strong advocate and supporter for Boston’s LGBT community.
Javier Pagan
A Boston Police Officer, Javier Pagan serves as the LGBT liaison of the Boston Police Department. Javier is very active in the community and a member of GOAL (Gay Officers Action League). Most recently Javier is known for being a heroic first responder on site during the tragic Boston Marathon bombings.
Ellyn Ruthstrom
Ellyn Ruthstrom is the president of The Boston Bisexual Resource Center. Ellyn is an activist that supports the bisexual community in multiple ways, both locally and nationally and fights to give voice to an inclusive LGBT community.
Honorary Marshal
Jeanne Manford
After her openly gay son was beaten in April 1972 for protesting news coverage of the gay rights movement, Jeanne Manford, an elementary school teacher in Flushing, Queens, founded PFLAG, the original ally organization made up of parents, families, friends, and straight allies uniting with LGBT people. PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education and advocacy. Jeanne passed away on January 8, 2013 but her advocacy and support will live on forever.
Boston Pride is calling on supporters and parade participants to nominate this year’s 2013 Pride Marshals. There are two categories: Grand Marshal and Honorary Marshal (the latter of which is only given posthumously). Members of the general public are invited to nominate marshals by emailing the nominee name, contact information, and a brief description of why this person or organization should be a marshal to nominations@bostonpride.org.
The deadline to send a nomination is April 15th. Once all nominations have been submitted, the general public will have the opportunity to vote for a winner in each category.
Marshal Categories
Boston Pride recognizes Marshals in three categories:
- Grand Marshal
- Honorary Marshal – only given posthumously
- Celebrity Marshal
Note that the public may vote only to select Grand and Honorary Marshals.
When nominating, the general public is asked to consider how their nominee illustrates the 2013 Pride Theme “Moving Forward… Proud, Strong, United” (for more info about the theme, click here).
Selection Process
Boston Pride has a tradition of turning to the community for the selection of the Pride Parade Marshals:
- Nominations - the general public can nominate Marshals in the three categories defined above
- Slate selection - Boston Pride narrows down the slate of nominees to five per category
- Voting (Apr. 15-30, 2013) – the general public can vote to select the Marshals
