Seattle Pride Announces Two More Marshals: Aleksa Manila & Zachary Pullin

Aleksa Manila is one of 8 local Marshals for the 2014 Seattle Pride Parade.

Seattle Pride (aka Seattle Out & Proud) announced the biggest “get” first…Star Trek’s GEORGE TAKEI was announced as the celebrity Grand Marshal for Seattle Pride’s 2014 Parade happening Sunday, June 29, 2014 in downtown Seattle.

But, there are EIGHT more Marshals to announce for this year’s parade including 5 individuals and three organizations who all serve our communities. Two of those individuals were announced on Wednesday: beloved drag entertainer/health advocate ALEKSA MANILA and community leader ZACHARY PULLIN were both honored. And, the announcement about Aleksa being honored as a marshal for this year’s Pride solves a mystery: Why she wasn’t named as a Pride Announcer for this year, a job she’s had for decades?

Because she’s IN the Parade!

From the press release:

Seattle Pride has been honored to work with Aleksa Manila throughout the years as an announcer at the Seattle Pride Parade and, MC for many of our events. Drug counselor by day – drag diva by night, Aleksa is an LGBT advocate and performance artist. Her involvement has garnered multipleawards and the recognition as an inspirational community leader in Seattle and across North America. A queen at heart, Aleksa holds the titles of Miss GayFilipino, La Femme Magnifique Puget Sound, Miss Gay Seattle and Empress of Seattle. Her social and professional peers have honored her with many recognitions like, the International Court System’s Jose Sarria Honors for exemplary service to the community, the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle’s Emperor Emeritus George Ray Award, the Seattle Men in Leather Organization’s Community Service Award, the Seattle LGBT Community Center’s Peach Award for Volunteerism. And, in 2013 Manila received the Dr. Bob Wood Award for “Excellence in HIV prevention” from Public Health-Seattle & King County. Aleksa is proud to have founded Pride ASIA whose mission is to celebrate, empower and nurture the multi-cultural diversity of the LGBTQ communities through the Asian Pacific Islander lens. Aleksa has been involved in many rallies and efforts for marriage equality and trans inclusion. She has worked tirelessly with many organizations and institutions like the University of California – San Francisco, The Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Gay City Health Project, Greater Seattle Business Association, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Entre Hermanos, Ingersoll Gender Center, Gender Justice League, International Community Health Services, Chinatown International District Business Association, Saying It Out Loud Conference, Fred Hutchinson Cancer ResearchCenter, HIV Vaccine Trials Unit, the University of Washington, Seattle Counseling Service and of course, Seattle Pride.

Community advocate Zachary Pullin is a Seattle Pride Parade Marshal for 2014.

Zachary Pullin is a community organizer in Seattle and is dedicated to serving LGBTQ, low-income, women and minority groups. Zachary serves with many organizations that seek social justice and empowerment of the LGBTQ community. An enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana and a former Peace Corps volunteer, he finds passion in service and illuminating how our myriad identities weave together. He is currently the Communications Coordinator at the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship, and works with Gay City to host conversation events for the Seattle LGBTQ community. He serves as a member of the Capitol Hill Community Council and, as a member of Gender Justice League, Northwest Two Spirits Society, and Native American Advisory Council for the Seattle Police Department. Zachary is a Fellow at the Pomegranate Center; and owns his own communications and design consulting business, hwame creative. He also contributes his creativity as a freelance writer for local and national publications, including Sol&Res, The Seattle Gay News and, The Advocate.

Congratulations to both honorees!

The remaining three individuals and three organizations will be announced in the weeks ahead.

And, a reminder than Seattle Pride’s PRIDE IDOL competition is underway, with Week 3 happening this coming Easter Sunday with an 8pm start time at Neighbours and hosted by Olivia LaGarce and DonnaTella Howe.