Cyndi Lauper, Chris Salgardo and Connie Kopelov & Phyllis
Siegel have been named as Grand Marshals for New York's 43rd Annual
LGBT Pride March on 24 June.
The foursome were formally announced in a statement from
Manhattan's Heritage of Pride, earlier today.
Lauper, an Emmy and Grammy award-winning LGBT youth advocate, is a
long-standing equality activist for gays and lesbians.
Salgardo is the President of Kiehl's Since 1851, while Kopelov and
Siegel are New York City's first legally married same-sex
couple.
"Our choices for this year's Grand Marshals embody everything we
look for in representatives that give back to the LGBT community
and have made a huge impact on the overall movement.
"Chris Salgardo's consistent track record on corporate
responsibility, Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund, and Connie &
Phyllis' symbolic, newly legalized union further prove that the
LGBT movement is alive and well." said Mike Dunlap, March
Director.
Meanwhile, Lauper also expressed her pleasure at being involved in
the annual gay event.
"I am honored to be a grand marshal for the New York City Pride
March this year. Pride is one of my favorite times of the year, and
as a lifelong New Yorker, I am excited to get to celebrate it in
the greatest city in the world," she said.
"So much progress has been made recently for the gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender community, but we still have so much work
to do, especially when it comes to youth homelessness. I look
forward to marching down 5th Avenue arm and arm with my brothers
and sisters in the LGBT community as we let the world know that we
will not rest until equality for all becomes a reality."
