“It never occurred to me that I was a lesbian. I wanted to know who I was in the world. After my relationship started, I never questioned it. That explains that!”
Meredith Baxter
Actress
2011 Grand Marshal
“Harvey gave his life for a movement – for our LGBT rights movement – and we must ask ourselves each day what can we give? Clearly, we will not be giving our lives, but what can we do to further our rights, to stop the violence against us, to retract the inequality, to reach beyond our comfort zones, even just a bit?”
Stuart Milk
Harvey Milk’s nephew
2010 Grand Marshal
“Three events propelled my vision into reality: grief at losing my best friend, Marvin; fear finding out that I, too, was positive; and rage at the heterosexual world because two boys had stabbed me and run away laughing as I lay bleeding in the gutter. These three moments, together, changed my life.”
Cleve Jones
Founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt
2009 Grand Marshal
“Don’t accept the world as it is. Dream about what the world could be – then help us make it happen.”
Peter Tatchell
Human rights activist
2008 Grand Marshal
“God did not create gays and lesbians so He could have something to hate!”
Rev. Troy. D. Perry
Founder of the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC)
2006 Grand Marshal
“I want the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who have turned their back on God to return to their faith. Ignore the misinformed people; don’t ignore God.”
Esera Tuaolo
Former NFL player
2003 Grand Marshal
“I find a lot of humor in politics and the contradictions and the hyperbole. Also, I find a lot of humor in our own community. I love their perspective on things.”
Tom Ammiano
California Assemblyman (D-San Francisco)
2001 Grand Marshal
“Gay people are chasing after all the things that straight people hate. We want to get married, we want to be in the military, we want to have children and these are all things that straight people are running from in droves.”
Bruce Vilanch
Comedian and writer
2000 Grand Marshal
“The only unconditional love there is, is the love that a parent has for a child. No matter what, we love our children. So don’t forget that.”
Betty DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres’ mother
1999 Grand Marshal
“HIV-AIDS is not a death sentence anymore; that’s part of the reason I want to be out there, sharing my story. You don’t have to sit on the couch just waiting for your dying day; you can go out there and live your life fairly normally, do what you want.”
Rudy Galindo
U.S. figure skater
1997 Grand Marshal
“I wished I’d learned earlier that I was a worthwhile person with better self-esteem, because not having it caused a lot of pain.”
Greg Louganis
U.S. diver
1995 Grand Marshal
“We’ve come far, but recognize that we still have a long way to go. It’s been a fight one state at a time.”
Christine Kehoe
State Assemblywoman (D-San Diego)
1987 Grand Marshal
“Today, I can look around and see young people coming out and not being afraid; and being quite open and affirming of themselves, as well as affirming their community. It’s a feeling of having a legacy that makes their life much easier and they will be making lives in the future much easier.”
Jeri Dilno
San Diego community activist
1984 and 1989 Grand Marshal
“I want to see things change. I’m not satisfied with the status quo as feminist and LGBT issues are concerned. We’ve achieved a lot over the past 20 to 25 years, but when you see what’s happening … you realize how much more needs to be done.”
Gloria Johnson
San Diego community activist
1977 and 1982 Grand Marshal
“It’s all about education. I was taught that the only difference is education.”
Bruce M. Abrams
San Diego community activist
2007 Grand Marshal
“Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.”
Barbara Gittings
Human rights activist
1975 Grand Marshal
