NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — NYC Pride 2024 is putting the spotlight on a group of seven LGBTQIA+ advocates who were granted the honor of serving as the celebration’s grand marshals, the nonprofit announced Friday.
Among the chosen leaders are DaShawn Usher, a South Bronx native who works as GLAAD’s senior director of communities of color and media; Miss Major, a transgender activist and author who participated in the Stonewall Uprising; and Raquel Willis, a writer and intersectional advocate.
Miss Major said that she hopes transgender youth can read the history of Stonewall, learn about the leadership of the transgender community and by doing so “feel empowered to do more to make sure that these anti-trans laws do not rear their ugly heads ever again,” while they “unite, stand tall, and be counted for who they are!”
Three of the grand marshals come from the Youth Activist category, NYC Pride said, which was created to ensure the nonprofit's mission to champion the rights and goals of queer youth and give young people a voice on “the grandest stage.”
The young grand marshals include Baddie Brooks, a musical artist who champions queer and transgender empowerment; Eshe Ukweli, a digital content creator, writer and content creator focused on Gen Z; and Robin Drake, a budding artist and transgender advocate.
"We need to PROTECT Trans and Queer youth, because what is visibility without safety? A trap,” Baddie Brooks said.
The final grand marshal is beloved celebrity, RuPaul’s Drag Race judge and longtime LGBTQIA+ ally Michelle Visage.
“To say I’m honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshal of NYC Pride is an understatement,” Visage said. “This is a momentous occasion for me as a Jersey girl who moved to NYC when I was 17 to chase my dreams.”
The NYC Pride March 2024 will be held on June 30, with other Heritage of Pride programming happening in the week before and day of.
“Now more than ever It is imperative for members across our community to unite behind the mission of the LGBTQIA+ cause: simply the opportunity to love, and to be able to live as you desire,” NYC Pride Co-Chair Kazz Alexander said.
1010 WINS/WCBS 880 is a media partner of NYC Pride.