With a theme like “Stronger Together,” it’s only fitting that we all vote together for the leader of the 2017 Boston Pride Parade.
Everyone can cast a vote for this year’s Marshal of the Boston Pride Parade (Saturday, June 10) now through March 15. All you have to do it go on line and do it.
Results will be announced at the annual Pride Spring Open House on Thursday, March 23rd starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Boston Pride office, 12 Channel St #503. The event is free, but registration is requested. Food and beverages will be served.
Here’s the line-up of nominees for the 2017 Parade Marshal:
Jason Hayes is a Boston native now residing in New York City, Jason Hayes took the initiative to plan and produce a march on Washington, D.C. for LGBTQ+ rights and Gun Control (called Disarm Hate) after the Orlando tragedy of June 2016. Jason Hayes has also won many pageant titles in drag and is a positive role model for many young LGBTQ+ youth and community members. He was the head judge of the Boston Pride Pageant in 2016.
The Imperial Court of MA (ICMA) was established in 1995 as a not-for-profit fundraising organization with the mission to put the “FUN” back in fundraising. ICMA focuses on raising funds for local organizations that work on critical issues like HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, homeless youth and the LGBT community.The all-volunteer organization, has raised money for The Boston Living Center, AIDS Action Committee, Fenway Health, AIDS Support Group Cape Cod, The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, Harbor to the Bay, and Waltham House.
Kristen Porter is celebrating 20 years of serving the LGBTQ community. In 1997, she founded Dyke Night to support the community through welcoming events. With over 1,000 events produced, Kristen Porter Presents Dyke Night® is the longest-lasting event company targeting the LBT women/queer community in Boston’s history. The company is 100% LGBT/queer owned and staffed. Profit raised through events is donated. The causes she has helped, the couples she have brought together, and the history she has created will be her legacy.
Ayanna Pressley, Boston City Councilor at-large, was first elected to the Boston City Council on November 3, 2009, becoming the first woman of color ever elected to the Council. In her subsequent 2011 and 2013 reelection campaigns, Councilor Pressley made history as the first person of color and the first woman in 30 years to top the ticket. During her time in office, Councilor Pressley created and chairs the City Council’s Committee on Healthy Women, Families, and Communities. She has worked diligently to promote equality for LGBT people, with a particular focus on LGBT youth and LGBT people of color.
Michelle Wu, Boston City Council President, was first elected to the Boston City Council in November 2013. Councilor Wu is the first Asian-American woman to serve on the Council. In January 2014, she was elected President of the City Council by her colleagues in a unanimous vote, becoming the first woman of color to serve as Council President. A former student and aide to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, she has made it a personal mission to make sure government is accessible to all people, especially our community and other minority communities.
All of these nominees embody the spirit of Boston Pride’s 2017 “Stronger Together” theme. For more details on all the awesome activities Boston Pride Week (June 2-11) includes, check out bostonpride.org.
