A Lifetime Of Hope
Reverend Cecil Williams Honored As Grand Marshal

The Pride Committee is proud to announce that Reverend Cecil Williams of Glide Memorial Methodist Church will be a Grand Marshal of this year’s San Francisco Pride Parade in honor of his lifetime achievement in supporting the community.

Reverend Cecil Williams said:

“I am honored and very proud that the LGBT Community has selected me to be their Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal. Our journey together in fighting for human rights is not over. We have so much more to do to
liberate all of those who are enslaved by intolerance and hatred. I am proud to stand with my brothers and sisters of this community. Thank you for making this world a better place for all of us."

For over 40 years, Reverend Cecil Williams has challenged and raised the limits of spirituality, compassion and diversity as the Pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco and been a spokesperson for the poor and marginalized.

SF Pride President, Joey Cain, said:

“Cecil is a strong ally in our fight for human rights. He is still at the forefront of those who challenge the homophobia that many people of faith are indoctrinated with. He and Glide Memorial Church have provided a safe haven for much of the activism that has created the strong community we have today. I am thrilled that Pride will be recognizing
and honoring such a lifetime of achievement.”

Reverend Williams is respected and recognized as a national leader at the forefront of change for the LGBT Community. As early as 1964 Reverend Williams was pushing the envelope as part of the team of ministers and gays and lesbians from the Bay Area who created the Council on Religion and Homosexuality. In 1965 he became the first
minister in a major denomination to perform same-sex commitment ceremonies. After forty years of crusading Williams has emerged as one of the most respected community leaders in America. It is fitting that he is the first ever recipient of the Lifetime Achievement San Francisco Pride Grand Marshal Award.

Commenting, San Francisco Supervisor, Bevan Dufty, said:

“Cecil Williams is the conscience of our City. Singing, shaking and communing at Glide, you know Cecil represents the best of what we, as San Franciscans, can achieve. I am honored that he is my friend, advisor and Pastor.”

Reverend Cecil Williams joins celebrity grand marshals Armistead Maupin and Marga Gomez and community grand marshals Vicki Marlene, Marina Gatto, Hank Wilson and Terry Person-Harris on the Parade route this year. For complete biographical information on Reverend Cecil Williams and the other grand marshals go to: www.sfpride.org/grandmarshal