Just announced: Armistead Maupin to be keynote speaker at Seattle PrideFest 2011.

Seattle PrideFest just announced that best selling author Armistead Maupin will be the keynote speaker at Seattle PrideFest at Seattle Center on Sunday, June 26. The writer of the beloved “Tales of the City” series of novels focusing on the complicated lives of a group of queer and straight friends living in San Francisco is also a fierce advocate of LGBTQ rights. Mr Maupin was recently in the Seattle area back in November of last year, promoting the 8th book in the “Tales” series, Mary Ann in Autumn and he’s also gearing up for the world premiere of the theatrical musical version of the first two novels in the series which debuts May 18, 2011 at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco with music and lyrics by Jake Shears and John Garden of Scissor Sisters and a book by Avenue Q writer, Jeff Whitty.

Seattle PrideFest will announce more artists as they are booked, including performers for this year’s big Saturday, June 25th concert, and artists for the Red Party events also scheduled for that Saturday night.