Grand Marshals

• About Grand Marshals
• Celebrity Grand Marshals
• Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal
• National Organizational Grand Marshal
• Local Organizational Grand Marshal
• Individual Community Grand Marshals
• Honorary Community Grand Marshals
• Past Grand Marshals

About Grand Marshals

San Francisco Pride’s Grand Marshals are the public emissaries of Pride. They represent a mix of individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community. With the help of community input, Pride selects these groups and individuals as Grand Marshals in order to honor the work they have put into furthering the causes of LGBT people.

San Francisco Pride recognizes community leaders and one infamous detractor in the following categories:

• Individual Community Grand Marshals
• Organizational Community Grand Marshal
• Celebrity Grand Marshals
• Pink Brick

Celebrity Grand Marshals

To be announced soon.

Community Grand Marshals 2012

Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr.

Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal

Selected by the SF Pride Board of Directors in April

Two-term Mayor of San Francisco, legendary Speaker of the California State Assembly, and widely regarded as the most influential African-American politician of the late twentieth century, Willie L. Brown, Jr., has been at the center of California politics, government, and civic life for an astonishing four decades. His career spans the American Presidency from Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush, and he’s worked with every California Governor from Pat Brown to Arnold Schwarzenegger. From civil rights to education reform, tax policy, economic development, health care, international trade, domestic partnerships, and affirmative action, he’s left his imprimatur on every aspect of politics and public policy in the Golden State.

As Mayor of California’s most cosmopolitan city, he refurbished and rebuilt the nation’s busiest transit system, pioneered the use of bond measures to build affordable housing, created a model juvenile justice system, and paved the way for a second campus of the University of California, San Francisco, to serve as the anchor of a new development that will position the City as a center for the burgeoning field of biotechnology. Today, he heads the Willie L. Brown, Jr., Institute on Politics and Public Service, where this acknowledged master of the art of politics shares his knowledge and skills with a new generation of California leaders.

Edaj

Individual Community Grand Marshal

Selected by the Pride Board in May

Edaj is a versatile artist whose career as a choreographer, producer, emcee and DJ, began in 1991 while serving in the USAF in Okinawa Japan. In 1996 she made her debut in San Francisco where she has become an influential entertainment specialist throughout the Bay Area. Her most memorable performances were as co-choreographer /dancer for Club Q from 1996 - 2000.

Her most celebrated performance is at MANGO, where she has amazed and delighted patrons since 1997. From 2002 – 2010, she was Executive Producer of the Women’s Stage at San Francisco Pride. She ensured there was a space for women at the celebration and showcased a diverse, multi-talented global representation of the women’s community on the stage. Her work with supporting and empowering women through artistic expression stretches across the nation and internationally through her company, Mizdj Creations. She is an advocate for the women's community and constantly lends her expertise toward establishing opportunities for women to excel in the arts.

Rebecca Prozan

Individual Community Grand Marshal

Selected by SF Pride’s members in April

Rebecca Prozan: Rebecca Prozan is the Director of Community Outreach for the District Attorney’s Office where she is creating a community relations model based on her seventeen years of experience as a Community Organizer, Prosecutor, and Neighborhood Leader. In 1995, Rebecca cut her teeth as an Organizer for Willie Brown’s campaign for Mayor. Following his victory, Rebecca worked as the Mayor’s liaison to the LGBT Community, where she secured funding for LGBT non-profits, advocated for LGBT representation on commissions, and organized the first LGBT civil ceremonies. Since that time, she managed Kamala Harris’ bid to become San Francisco’s first African-American, and first female, District Attorney and worked as a Legislative Aide to Supervisor Bevan Dufty. In 2004, Rebecca joined the District Attorney’s office where she eventually launched the Neighborhood Prosecutor and Community Courts program under current District Attorney George Gascón.

Rebecca was elected as a 2008 Obama Delegate and has received leadership awards from the FDR and Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Clubs. In 2010, Rebecca ran for District 8 Supervisor by waging a non-ideological, common sense campaign. Rebecca currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Castro Country Club. She and her wife, Julia Adams, were married in 2008 and are residents of the Castro, along with their rescue dog Mika.

Sister Roma

Individual Community Grand Marshal

Selected by community vote in March

2012 marks Sister Roma’s 25th year as one of the most continuously active, outspoken and highly visible members of the San Francisco's Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence. She has dedicated half of her life to serving the San Francisco LGBTQI community as an activist, fundraiser, public speaker, hostess/Master of Ceremonies, columnist, talk show host, and an arguable San Francisco gay icon. Since taking her vows, Roma has been on the front lines in the war against HIV and AIDS, homophobia, and hate crimes as the creator of the Stop The Violence Campaign. One of San Francisco’s most colorful and outspoken civil rights advocates, Roma has graced the main stages of SF Pride, Folsom Street Fair, Castro Street Fair, Halloween in the Castro and Easter in Dolores Park just to name a few.

While it's impossible to know exactly how much money Roma has raised for the global LGBTQI community it's estimated that she has contributed her time and talents to events contributing over $1 million in 25 years of service.

Olga Talamante

Individual Community Grand Marshal

Selected by the Pride Board in May

Olga Talamante is the Executive Director of the Chicana/Latina Foundation. The Chicana/Latina Foundation’s mission is the Empowerment of Chicanas/Latinas through their Personal, Educational, and Professional Advancement. She is well known for her activism and community leadership.

Over the years she has worked in the Chicano, Farmworkers, Human Rights and LGBT movements, always working to bring together the various issues that intersect our communities. She is a past co-chair of National Center for Lesbian Rights, currently serves on the Boards of Horizons Foundation, the Greenlining Institute, on the Advisory Board of GELAAM (Latino LGBT organization in San Mateo County), and on the Latino Advisory Council of the Oakland Museum of California.

Morningstar Vancil

Individual Community Grand Marshal

Selected by the Pride Board in May

Morningstar Vancil identifies as Two-Spirit, Butch and as a folk-artist, veteran, and community builder. Her family ancestry is Pacific Islander (Filipino), Native American (Mohican tribe), and Black Negritos (African). Morningstar came to the United States to gain political asylum in 1984. Recently she was featured as a filmmaker for the Queer Women of Color Film Festival and the American Indian Film Festival (2011). She is an active member of FABLED ASP (F fabulous, A activist, B Bay Area, LE Lesbians, D with disabilities, A – S – P A Storytelling Project).

Morningstar has been an advocate for People of Color (POC) in the areas of immigration, human rights, domestic partnership, and tribal alliance-building. She has been clean and sober since 1991. She served as a volunteer for the Two-Spirit Groups' Archives of the LGBT Historical Society, spoke on POC panel discussions, and co-founded ForS/mWoC, an organization dedicated to creating an equal and harmonious relationship among the BDSM communities. She is a member of Kreatibo (a queer-pinay performance troupe), Butch Magic (a drag king troupe), Fat Bottom Revue (Big Burlesque), and Neshkinukat, a coalition of Native American artists in Northern California.

Morningstar is a founding member and former officer of the Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits and serves on the LGBT Advisory Board of the Human Rights Commission (City of San Francisco) and is a former LGBT board member of the American Cancer Society. Presently, Morningstar is the Woman's Commander of Post 448 (LGBT Veterans) and also a member of Black Bear Gourd Society. She is also recovering from gynecological cancer, diagnosed in 2003, and has been very active in creating community for LGBT cancer survivors.

Gary Virginia

Individual Community Grand Marshal

Selected by SF Pride’s Electoral College in April

Gary Virginia is a fundraiser, activist and 24-year HIV/AIDS survivor who has produced numerous benefits for AIDS, breast cancer, emergency humanitarian relief and US and international LGBT civil rights. His public service history includes: past president of Positive Resource Center, Mr. San Francisco Leather 1996, SF Human Rights Commission LGBT Advisory Committee, Gays Without Borders/SF executive committee, columnist, podcast radio host, SF Supervisor candidate, Pride Brunch cofounder, and founder of Krewe de Kinque Mardi Gras charitable club.

Active in many organizations, he currently serves on the advisory board of the SF Bay Times and Positive Resource Center.

ACLU of Northern California

Community Organizational Grand Marshal

Selected by community vote in March

The ACLU of Northern California is the nation’s largest affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, protecting and advancing civil liberties, including LGBT Rights, throughout the region.

Past Grand Marshals

2011
Chaz Bono	Celebrity Grand Marshals: Chaz Bono Olymia Dukakis LaKisha Hoffman Yigit Pura Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal: Bishop Yvette Flunder Special Guests: Dustin Lance Black Jeremy Ray Valdez Individual Community Grand Marshals: Dr. Aaron Belkin Victoria Kolakowski Christiana Remington Therese "Terry" Stewart Rev. Roland Stringfellow Graylin K. Thornton National Organizational Grand Marshal: The Trevor Project Local Organizational Grand Marshal: The GLBT Historical Society & History Museum Honorary Grand Marshals: Susie Bright Ron Wong Pink Brick Recipient: Lou Engle
2010
(Photo Credit: Tom Hwang)	Celebrity Grand Marshals: Alice Walker Zoe Dunning Andy Bell Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal: Ambassador James Hormel Special Guests: Nancy Pelosi on video Community Grand Marshals: All past Pride Grand Marshals were invited back to celebrate as Community Grand Marshals Organizational Grand Marshal: Cheer SF
2009
(Photo Credit: Bill Wilson)	Celebrity Grand Marshals: Cloris Leachman Lt. Dan Choi The MILK Movie Team: Bruce Cohen Dan Nicoletta Howard Rosenman Real-life MILK Team: Tory Hartmann Frank Robinson John Ryckman Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal: William Beasley Organizational Grand Marshal: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Community Grand Marshals: Joe Hawkins Molly McKay and Davina Kotulski Shannon Minter Andrea Shorter Helen Zia Special Guests: Calpernia Addams Ongina Darryl Stephens Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado The Cast of "WICKED" Pink Brick Recipient: Carrie Prejean Pink Brick Runner-up: Archbishop George H. Niederauer
2008
(Photo Credit: Bill Wilson)	Celebrity Grand Marshals: Cyndi Lauper The Producers of The Milk Movie Stuart Milk Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal: Theresa Sparks Organizational Grand Marshal: Gay Asian Pacific Alliance Community Grand Marshals: Erick Argüello Joan Benoît Marvin Burrows Joey Cain Evan Low Julius Turman Honorary Grand Marshals: Brett Andrews Miguel Bustos Trauma Flintstone Shannon Minter Tina Phillips Dr. Carol Queen Pink Brick Recipient: Bill O'Reilly
2007
(Photo Credit: Bill Wilson)	Celebrity Grand Marshals: The Cast of “Noah’s Arc” Eric Alva Jan Wahl Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal: Pat Norman Organizational Grand Marshal: Rainbow World Fund Community Grand Marshals: Dolores Caruthers & Laura Espinosa John Newsome Page Hodel Robert Haaland Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Pink Brick Recipient: George W. Bush
2006
(Photo Credit: Jane Cleland)	Celebrity Grand Marshals: Jennifer Beals Honey Labrador Reichen Lehmkuhl Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal: Sgt. Elliot Blackstone Organizational Grand Marshal: The Billy deFrank LGBT Center of San Jose Community Grand Marshals: Marion Abdullah Robert Bernardo Cecilia Chung Dr. Kathleen McGuire Sal Rosselli Lancy Woo and Cristy Chung Pink Brick Recipient: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger