BOSTON, Mass.—The Marshals for the 46th Annual Boston Pride Parade are: Parade Grand Marshal Claire B. Naughton, Parade Marshals Raffi Freedman-Gurspan and Anthony Imperioso, and Parade Honorary Marshals, awarded posthumously, the late Bayard Rustin and Thomas V. Barbera. The marshals were announced last night at Boston Pride’s annual Spring Open House and are the result of an online vote of the community.
“The community has chosen a wonderful slate of marshals who represent a wide spectrum of our LGBT community,” said Sylvain Bruni, Boston Pride President. “We look forward to having the marshals lead the parade and to honoring the legacies of Bayard Rustin and Thomas V. Barbera.”
The Boston Pride Parade is a march to celebrate and promote equal rights for the region’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. The Parade will kick off at noon from Copley Square on Saturday, June 11. It is the premier event of Boston Pride Week, which will be held June 3 to 12. As one of the biggest and most popular Pride Parades in the country, individuals and organizations from around New England will walk together to advocate for equality, respect and inclusivity. The theme of this year’s Boston Pride celebration is “Solidarity Through Pride” which recognizes that multiple struggles still exist in a wide range of communities, both within and outside the LGBT community, and that they are all related and intertwined. The theme encourages all participants in our events to leverage Pride and fight for equality in unity, for everyone.
“This year’s Boston Pride Parade is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever,” said Martha Plaza, Parade Chair. “Our marshals will lead the thousands of marchers, dozens of floats and many marching bands through the streets of Boston to celebrate the diversity of our community and to show our pride.”
Grand Marshal
Claire B. Naughton of Foxboro, Mass., LGBT ally and longtime activist for gay rights within the Democratic Party and in the labor community.
Parade Marshals
Withdrawn: Anthony Imperioso, President of the Gay Officers Action League
Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, the White House LGBT liaison and Outreach and Recruitment Director for Presidential Personnel, the first openly transgender person to work in the White House and the first transgender legislative staffer to work in the Mass. Legislature
Honorary Marshals (Posthumous)
Bayard Rustin, civil rights and gay rights activist, organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, DC.
Thomas V. Barbera, longtime labor and gay rights activist
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. Pride Week 2016 will be held June 3rd-12th.
[From a News Release]
