00Pride01

The Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Inc., the organization responsible for the annual Pride Parade which traipses down Ocean every May, has announced this year’s Grand Marshals that will be recognized along the parade’s route.

00Pride01Shortly after being honored by The LGBTQ Center earlier this year,  E! talk show host and national bestselling author Ross Mathews will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal. The self-described “practical risk-taker” rose to fame when he became the out-and-loud intern for Jay Leno, amusing audiences with his unapologetically gay interpretation of the world.

00Pride02Outgoing Mayor Bob Foster will be filling in as the Morris Knight Political Grand Marshal, being recognized for his two terms as a gay-friend mayor. Foster was the first mayor to start a formal Mayoral Reception that kicks off Pride each year as well as the first mayor to raise the rainbow flag above our City Hall.

00Pride03Giovanna Martinez, the Youth Services Coordinator for the WomenShelter of Long Beach, will be serving as the Female Community Grand Marshal. Her work within domestic violence have been paramount in helping victims of domestic violence throughout Long Beach.

00Pride04Dale Warner, co-owner of Hamburger Mary’s, will be sitting in as the Male Community Grand Marshal. His move of the gay bar staple to Downtown Long Beach has been part of a renaissance on Pine while also bringing a rainbow touch to the otherwise un-gay downtown scene.

00Pride05Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell, now on his campaign to head the county as sheriff, will be honored with the Whitey Littlefield Community Bridge Building Award. He is being honored for “promot[ing] effective partnerships within the law enforcement community and recognizes how much can be accomplished by bringing people with a shared vision together.”

00Pride06Lastly and certainly not least, outgoing Youth Program Manager of the LGBTQ Center Kyle Bullock will be honored by serving as a Special Recognition Grand Marshal. The popular youth coordinator will be serving his last months at The Center before heading to Chicago to attend graduate school.