The Phoenix Pride Parade to brings our diverse LGBTQ+ and allied communities together for a weekend of camaraderie and celebration of our past, present and future. The Parade brings over 2,000 individual participants with decorated vehicles, colorful floats and thousands of walkers. With over 15,000 spectators, the Parade features our Grand Marshals, local luminaries, music, and fun along the 3rd Street route from E. Portland to Taylor St. The Parade concludes at the Arizona Center, the 2026 home of the Phoenix Pride Festival.

The Phoenix Pride Parade raises funds for Phoenix Pride and the Pride Community Grants and Scholarships Programs.

General Information

Date: October 11, 2026
Step Off Time: 10:00am

Begins: 3rd St & E. Portland
Ends: 3rd St & Taylor St.

Announcer Stages: 3rd St & Taylor near entrance to the Festival

Participate in the Parade

 

2026 Parade Application
Information & Rules

Volunteer Opportunities

 

2026 Parade Volunteer Application
APPLY NOW!
Many different opportunities are
available to join the Parade Crew!

Accessibility

An ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter will be next to the announcer’s stage at 3rd St and Taylor.

The closest parking garage is the Arizona Center parking garage at 4th St. & Fillmore, which has handicapped parking spaces available. The area by the announcer’s stage is right next to the festival entrance and is easily accessible.

2026 Grand Marshal

A Little Of My Story

Neil Giuliano

Neil Giuliano has spent more than three decades at the intersection of public service, LGBTQ+ advocacy, community leadership and civic engagement.
First elected to the Tempe City Council in 1990, Giuliano became the youngest person elected mayor of Tempe in 1994, serving until 2004. When he publicly came out as gay in August 1996, fewer than 50 openly LGBTQ+ elected officials were serving in the entire United States, and Tempe became the largest city in the country with an openly gay mayor. As one of America’s most visible openly gay mayors in the late 1990s, Giuliano attended more than 35 Pride festivals and events across the country, frequently helping raise funds for local and national LGBTQ organizations.
During his decade as mayor, Giuliano led the creation of Tempe Town Lake and the Tempe Center for the Arts and advanced the development of regional light rail. He established the Tempe Human Relations Commission, served on the National League of Cities Board of Directors, and in 2003 Tempe was named an All-America City, considered the “Oscar” for local government achievement in advancing a community vision.
Giuliano is the author of The Campaign Within: A Mayor’s Private Journey to Public Leadership (Magnus Books, 2012) and was named Valley Leadership’s 69th Arizona Man of the Year in 2017.

Our Story

Laura Pastor

Phoenix native Laura Pastor is a fifth-generation Arizonan who has proudly served on the Phoenix City Council since 2014, representing the heart of the city’s diverse and dynamic District 4. Re-elected to her third term in 2022, Councilwoman Pastor continues to champion policies that create vibrant, safe, and connected communities for all residents.
In addition, she co-chairs the Fast-Track Cities Ad Hoc Committee, advancing the city’s goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030, and serves on the Workforce Ad Hoc Committee, promoting pathways to high-quality jobs for Phoenix residents. Her service extends beyond City Hall—she has been active on numerous local boards, including the Encanto Village Planning Committee, the Maricopa Transportation Advisory Board, and the Hispanic Advisory Board of Maricopa Community Colleges.
Today, Laura serves as Community Liaison at Phoenix College, where she builds bridges between higher education and neighborhoods—connecting residents with opportunities for learning, workforce development, and civic engagement. Previously, she led Early Outreach programs at both South Mountain and Phoenix College, helping first-generation students access college pathways.
Laura lives in Phoenix with her husband, Henry Cotto, a former major league baseball player and minor league coach. They are proud parents of four children: Henry Jr., Claudia, Eduardo, and Sophia.

A Little Of My Story

Marshall Shore

Marshall Shore, Arizona’s "Hip Historian," is a storyteller and public historian who specializes in finding and sharing the most interesting bits and curiosities from our past: the semi-forgotten people, places, and events that have made us who we are today. A tireless advocate for desert culture. A former librarian brings Arizona’s past to life through vintage ephemera, retro flair, and dynamic multimedia storytelling. As a key force behind the Arizona LGBT+ History Project in partnership with Phoenix Pride and Arizona State University, he has dedicated years to uncovering, preserving, and celebrating our state’s rich queer heritage. Marshall is excited to be a Grand Marshal, celebrating community visibility, history, and pride.

Our Story

Pussy LeHoot / Kevin McSweeny

Born in Flagstaff AZ September 12th 1960. Gaduated From Coconino High School 1978
Moved to Phoenix in 1981 after attending beauty college in Flagstaff. Began professional Drag career in 1981. Celebrating Host of AZ longest running Show , "Pussy LeHoot and Friends" at Charlie's Phoenix.
Miss Gay Phoenix America 1989
Miss Gay Arizona America 1992
Miss Arizona Gay Pride 1997
5 time Miss Arizona Gay Rodeo
And Miss international Gay Rodeo
2005. Thank you to the Pride Board, Fans, and the AZ community, I am very honored to be asked part of this milestone year for AZ pride.

Pride Parade Sponsors