Billy Porter named Pride honorary grand marshal
Billy Porter Steven Pace, Betty Neal are grand marshals for festival, parade June 1-2 in Fair Park TAMMYE NASH | Managing Editor Nash@DallasVoice.com Billy Porter, the acclaimed singer, actor and LGBQ advocate, has been named honorary grand marshal of the 2024 Dallas Pride Parade, formerly known as the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, Dallas Pride officials announced this week.
Grand marshals this year are longtime community activists Betty Neal and Steven Pace. The 2024 Dallas Pride celebration in Fair Park starts Saturday, June 1, with the Pride Music Festival from 11 a.m.
to 9 p.m., including Family Pride, Teen Pride, vendors and entertainment. Pride continues Sunday, June 2, with the festival from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m., then the parade steps off at 2 p.m. Billy Porter “We are thrilled to welcome Billy Porter to Dallas Pride,” said Sherrell Cross, executive director of Dallas Pride. “He symbolizes the spirit of unity, pride and resilience within the LGBTQ+ community, and will undoubtedly electrify audiences with his spirit and sparkle.” Describing Porter as “a trailblazer in the entertainment industry and an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights,” Dallas Pride officials said that he “has captivated audiences worldwide with his remarkable talent and unwavering commitment to inclusivity and equality.” Porter has racked up numerous awards over the course of his career, including a Broadway.com Audience Choice Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and the Tony Award for outstanding lead actor in a musical for his portrayal of Lola in Kinky Boots; a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album also for Kinky Boots GLAAD’s Vito Russell Award; three Dorian Awards, a Primetime Emmy, a Gold Derby Award and a Queerty Award for his role as Pray Tell in three seasons of Pose on TV; a Tony Award for Best musical as producer of A Strange Loop, The Isabelle Stevenson Award from the Tony Awards in recognition of his work with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and
