Grand Marshals
Grand Marshals
All Past Grand Marshals are the 50th Anniversary Grand Marshals
For the 50th Anniversary, our Santa Cruz Pride Board voted to designate all of our past Grand Marshals as our 50th Anniversary Grand Marshals.
Please complete this quick form so we know you can join us.
Looking for Past Grand Marshals:
2012: Kai Azada and Richard Baldwin
2009: Terri Gilver
2008: Merrie Schaller and Natalie Steinberg
2005: Kayla Rose
2004: Mabel Teng
2001: Fred Friedman and Karen Sommerfeld
1996: Kwai Lam and Tracye Lee Lawson
1994: Jay Walker
1993: Mardi Brown
We are looking for the past Grand Marshals listed below. If you have their phone or email, please contact them on our behalf and point them to this page or email: Robdarrow@santacruzpride.org with the contact information.
2024 - Elaine Johnson and Pat Dellin
2023 - Faris Sabbah and the Santa Cruz MAH
2022 - Mark Stone and 25 Years of the Queer Youth Leadership Awards
2021 - Pride Picnic
2020 - Virtual Pride
2019 - Vynes Dowling and Adam Spickler
2018 – Deb Abbott, Joe Cosentino, & Mia Duquet
2017 – Tam Welch
2016 – Patti Maxine and Adrian Viloria
2015 - Jennifer Hastings, M.D. and Alejandra Santiago
2014 - Tom Ellison & Larry Friedman
2013 - Kathy Goldenkranz and Stuart Rosenstein
2012 - Kai Azada & Richard Baldwin and Jane Schwickerath
2011 - Grace Gallego
2010 - Monica Morales and Lulu & Kathy Manus
2009 - Terri Gilbert and Glen Schaller
2008 - Merrie Shaller & Natalie Steinberg
Our past grand marshals
2007 - Terry Cavanagh and Shekhinah Mountainwater
2006 - Denny Carroll & Bob Correa and Margaret Leonard & Clare Sheils
2005 - Kayla Rose and Maurice Carillo & Curt Keyer
2004 - Mabel Teng and Mel White
2003 - John Laird* and Cece Pinheiro
2002 - Fred Keeley
2001 - Fred Friedman and Karen Sommerfeld
2000 - Pioneers (organizers of 1975 Pride)
1999 - Gabriel and Mark Grantham & Mike Tossy
1998 - Jerry Solomon and Mardi Wormhoudt
1997 - Rebecca Adams and John Laird*
1996 - Kwai Lam and Tracye Lea Lawson
1995 - Jo Kenny & Gloria Nieto
1994 - Marie Henley and Jay Walker
1993 - Mardi Brown
1992 - Bill Colvig & Lou Harrison
1991 - Gary Reynolds
Gary Reynolds was a young gay activist in Santa Cruz who worked on queer and HIV/AIDS issues in the 80s and the early 90s; he was outspoken (which is an understatement), passionate, honest, brave, smart and absolutely unwilling to be silenced. In 1990, Gary was co-MC at Queer pride. In 1991, the Queer Pride committee realized the next year that Gary might not be well enough to march, it decided to create the position of Grand Marshal so that Gary could ride.
Gary lived long enough to lead the march, then died late that night at the age of 27; his death was on the front page of the Sentinel - and he would have loved that.
One Time Only Rule* (est. 2004)
People who have served as Grand Marshal for our parade before are not eligible for this once-in-a-lifetime honor.
What are Grand Marshals?
Each year, we ask one or two people or organizations who have given extraordinary service to the Santa Cruz Queer community to lead our Pride Parade as Grand Marshal.
Former Grand Marshals are our 50th Anniversary Grand Marshals. Join us on June 1 by completing this form.