PROMOTION
LEA DeLaria, star of American TV sensation, Orange is the New Black, has been announced as this year’s Grand Marshal at Manchester Pride’s Parade on Saturday 23 August.
We know she’ll bring her unique charm and personality to really get the crowd going and kickstart the parade with a bang
Lea, who plays Big Boo in the Netflix hit series, follows in the footsteps of Sir Ian McKellen, who led the parade in 2010, and other big names from the acting world.
Mark Fletcher, chief executive of Manchester Pride, said: “We’re excited that Lea will be leading this year’s parade through Manchester city centre. Not only is she an incredible performer but she’s an inspiration for the global LGBT community. We know she’ll bring her unique charm and personality to really get the crowd going and kickstart the parade with a bang.”
As Grand Marshal, Lea will lead the parade through the streets of Manchester alongside patrons of Manchester Pride.
Lea said: “It’s an honour to be invited to marshal the Manchester Pride parade. I can’t wait to return to Manchester. The girls there are really hot!”
In 1993, DeLaria was the first openly gay comic to perform on television in America, after which she gained a reputation as a global gay icon. Before her success on Orange is the New Black, she appeared in television series including Will and Grace and Friends, and had film roles in The First Wives Club, Edge Of Seventeen and Attack Of The Big Haired Lesbians.
Lea’s on and off Broadway highlights include a Drama Desk nomination and a Drama League Honoree for On The Town and portraying both Eddie and Dr. Scott in the Tony-nominated revival of The Rocky Horror Show.
The theme for the 2014 Manchester Pride Parade, and the festival as a whole, is LOVE, whether it be to honour the same sex marriage act, or challenge the final pieces of the legislation. The Manchester Pride charity is calling for participants to celebrate and embrace their love with the city.
This year’s parade is expected to consist of around 3,500 people from across Greater Manchester, with almost 100 entries, from small community groups, to large commercial organisations all expressing their support of the LGBT community. The procession will weave its way through the city centre, following a one mile route, as thousands of visitors line the streets.
A host of stars including All Saints, Anastacia and Conchita Wurst will perform in Manchester during the Big Weekend, presented in partnership with G-A-Y. They will be joined by Pixie Lott, Foxes, MNEK, Neon Jungle and many more.
The Parade is a free event that is part of the wider Manchester Pride festival. Tickets for the Big Weekend are currently priced at £22 for a weekend ticket. Day tickets are also on sale and start at £12.50. Child's Day and Weekend tickets are now on sale too.
A Big Weekend ticket provides guests with access to the event site including the Main Arena, Sackville Gardens, the Gaydio Dance Arena and Expo. Plus it helps Manchester Pride raise money for LGBT and HIV charities and organisations in Greater Manchester.
For more information, visit manchesterpride.com/tickets.
There’s more to Manchester Pride than the Big Weekend and, since 2003, the festival has grown to include Pride Fringe which encompasses a series of art, culture, heritage, debate, sport, music and film events celebrating the great diversity of the LGBT community. The Manchester Pride Festival 2014 kicked off on 1 August with Pride Fringe.
To find out more about Manchester Pride and this year’s festival you can follow the charity on Twitter @manchesterpride or visit the website at manchesterpride.com.
