SEATTLE — Two Seattle sports stars are serving as grand marshals of this year’s Seattle Pride Parade, marking the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations in Seattle.
Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe will be grand marshals alongside additional leaders in the LGBTQ+ community. David Neth, who organized the city’s first Pride celebration, will also be a grand marshal of the milestone parade.
“We’re honored to be named grand marshals for the Seattle Pride Parade and look forward to seeing everyone on parade day,” Bird and Rapinoe, who are engaged, said in a joint statement. “It’s humbling to be recognized in our city that we love, and as part of a community with such a rich LGBTQIA+ history. It’s going to be an incredible celebration of love and acceptance.”
The annual Seattle Pride Parade is the finale of Pride Month and is held on the last Sunday in June to commemorate the Stonewall rebellion anniversary.
Bird is a five-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time WNBA champion point guard. The basketball star, who was also voted by fans as one of the WNBA’s top 15 players of all time, recently became a member of the Seattle Storm’s ownership group in April. In addition to her strengths on the court, Bird is a strong advocate for racial, gender, and LGBTQIA+ equity; she co-founded Togethxr, a media group focused on the coverage of girls and women’s sports, in 2022.
Rapinoe is a two-time soccer World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist. Rapinoe helped lead the USWNT to the 2019 World Cup Championship and was awarded the Golden Boot for top scorer and the Golden Ball for the best player in the tournament. A dedicated and vocal leader of equality for all people, she was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom award, the highest honor given to a civilian, in 2022 by President Joe Biden.
Serving alongside Bird and Rapinoe is an intergenerational group of LGBTQIA+ leaders, “including elders who have worked tirelessly to advance LGBTQIA+ rights and visibility, and youth who continue the march forward," according to parade organizers.
The grand marshal party includes Seattle’s first Pride celebration organizer David Neth, and representatives from Camp Ten Trees, GenPride, Lambert House, Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center, Seattle Public Schools, and South Park Senior Center.
Seattle Pride executive director Patti Hearn said the organization is excited to have the sports superstars serving as grand marshals this year.
“These two exceptional women are champions in their respective sports, champions for the queer community, and role models for future generations of LGBTQIA+ leaders; they are the perfect grand marshals for our 50-year milestone,” Hearn said.
Seattle Pride Parade is Washington’s largest parade and one of the largest Pride parades in the country, according to its organizers.
This year’s parade takes place June 30 in downtown Seattle along Fourth Avenue from Union Street to Denny Way. Pre-show entertainment is held at 10 a.m. at Westlake Park and the parade starts at 11 a.m. It is free to attend.
For more information and to reserve seating, visit SeattlePride.org.