LA PRIDE ANNOUNCES 2023 GRAND MARSHALS
LOS ANGELES, CA (May 15, 2023) : Christopher Street West Association (CSW) – the 501(c)3 nonprofit that has produced the iconic LA Pride celebration for more than 50 years – announced today that queer comic, actor, activist, Margaret Cho, has been name the 2023 LA Pride Parade Icon Grand Marshal.
“I’m thrilled and incredibly honored to be the Icon Grand Marshal,” said Cho. “We need this Pride more than ever. I have been attending Pride celebrations since 1978 and this time around the need to celebrate as well as unite is more urgent than it has ever been. Our love is greater than their hate.”
The five-time GRAMMY and Emmy nominee has been an outspoken advocate of anti-racism, anti-bullying, and LGBTQ+ rights, while nurturing her legendary stand-up career that has yielded over ten comedy tours. Cho’s recent television appearances include Season 2 of The Flight Attendant (HBO Max), Season 2 of Hacks (HBO Max), and the Netflix is a Joke comedy specials, Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration, recorded right here in LA at the Greek Theater.
Legacy Grand Marshal. CSW is also planning a custom tribute to Emmy-winner Leslie Jordan as the Legacy Grand Marshal, a new grand marshal designation to posthumously celebrate those who have made an everlasting impact on the hearts and lives of our community. The parade contingent will consist of a custom vehicle, and a small group of Leslie’s friends and family.
“We are overjoyed by Christopher Street West’s heartfelt recognition to name Leslie as LA Pride’s Legacy Grand Marshal,” said his sister, Jana “Cricket” Jordan. “This honor further solidifies the positive impact he made in the world, but more importantly for the LGBTQ+ community. His spirit continues to bring love and light.”
Leslie may be gone but he will never be forgotten, and we miss him terribly!
Community Grand Marshal. CSW has chosen the ACLU of Southern California to be this year’s Community Grand Marshals, as they celebrate their 100th anniversary of fighting for LGBTQ+ civil rights.
Did you know: In 1970, the ACLU SoCal helped CSW successfully sue the Los Angeles Police Commissioner to obtain a parade permit. The result was the first LA Pride Parade, and the first permitted gay parade in the world.
“For a century, we’ve been on the front lines fighting for people to be their true, authentic selves,” said Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU SoCal. “We’re honored to be the Community Grand Marshal and proud to love, live among, and protect LGBTQ Californians.”
To celebrate, the ACLU SoCal is organizing a special drag performance presented by and staged by Morgan McMichaels, to the music by 13-time Oscar nominee, Diane Warren.
The LA Pride Parade 2023 will air live, 11am-1pm, on long-time broadcast partner KABC/ABC7, as well as abc7.com, the ABC7LA mobile app and wherever you stream ABC7 Los Angeles. It will also air nationally on ABC News Live and Hulu.
To read more about the parade route, LA Pride Village, the free sreet fair adjacent to the Parade, and the best way to attend all the festivities in-person, click here.
This year’s LA Pride Parade partners include our Icon Sponsors: Corona Extra, Corona Hard Seltzer and SVEDKA Vodka: Hero Sponsors: Toyota Mirai and H&M; Activist Sponsors: Delta Air Lines – the Official Airline of LA Pride, The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) – Official Transit Partner of LA Pride, Glamazon, Kim Crawford Wines, L.A. Care Health Plan, Los Angeles Tourism, Optum, Sony Pictures Entertainment; Advocate Sponsors: AEG, including the LA Kings, LA Galaxy, and AEG Presents, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions, Coca-Cola, Google, Grindr, Honda, LADPW, LVMH, Nordstrom, Rare Beauty, UCLA Health, Warner Bros. Discovery; Ally Sponsors: Activision Blizzard, FOX Pride, NBCUniversal, Target, Tiffany & Co., as well as returning television and digital broadcast partner ABC7, and official radio partner iHeartMedia Los Angeles and PRIDE RADIO on the iHeartRadio app. A&CO serves as LA Pride’s official partnership agency of record.
About Christopher Street West (CSW)/LA Pride:
Christopher Street West Association (CSW), a 501(c)3 nonprofit, organized the world’s first permitted gay parade in the world on June 28, 1970, to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City. Over 50 years later, CSW remains an active voice for the LGBTQ+ community of Greater Los Angeles. While best known for producing the iconic LA Pride Parade celebration & festival,”LA Pride in the Park,” they also organize, sponsor or support community events throughout the year, and work with their nonprofit, philanthropic, and community partners to further diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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