Seattle Power Couple Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe Announced As Grand Marshals For Seattle Pride Parade

Seattle Pride announced today that we’ll be getting some big names as Grand Marshal for this year’s Seattle Pride Parade happening on Sunday, June 30th…local power couple and superstar athletes, SUE BIRD and MEGAN RAPINOE.

Legendary retired star of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm basketball team, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, the equally legendary retired star of Seattle Reign FC of the National Women’s Soccer League, are both internationally known athletes with a display case worth of Olympic Gold Medals to prove it.

The pair delighted the LGBTQ+ community in 2017 when they announced they had been dating since 2016. In 2020, they announced their engagement.

They’ll be joined by local intergenerational leaders of the community including David Neth, an organizer of Seattle’s First Pride Celebration, 50 years ago.

More from the press release:

Basketball legend Bird, the five-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time WNBA champion point guard for the Seattle Storm is the league’s all-time leader in assists, retired in 2022 before becoming a member of the Storm’s ownership group last month. She was voted by fans as one of the WNBA’s top 15 players of all time. Her vocal stance on racial, gender, and LGBTQIA+ equity has made her a cornerstone in athletic representation and allyship. In 2021, Bird co-founded Togethxr – a woman-centered media group – to further the culture, representation, and coverage of girls and women in sports. In 2022, alongside fiancée Rapinoe and in partnership with Togethxr, she launched a production company focused on telling the stories of the people moving culture forward. Named A Touch More the pair is determined to bring more understanding, connection, entertainment, and conversation to the ever-evolving media landscape. Bird is an outspoken and visible activist advocating for Black Lives, equality, health and wellness, and expanding opportunities for girls and all marginalized people.

Rapinoe, the two-time soccer World Cup Champion and Olympic gold medalist, is a fan favorite on and off the pitch. An activist, New York Times’ best-selling author, and co-founder (with Bird) of A Touch More, Rapinoe is a vocal leader in every aspect of life. Rapinoe helped lead the USWNT to the 2019 World Cup Championship, scoring some of the biggest goals of the tournament and taking home two top honors – the Golden Boot for top scorer, and the Golden Ball for the best player in the tournament. She was also named as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” and is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom award, the country’s highest civilian honor. She is an advocate for equality for all and has been able to intersect her passion for humanity and authenticity.

Joining Bird and Rapinoe as grand marshals is an Intergenerational contingent of LGBTQIA+ leaders – including elders who have worked tirelessly to advance LGBTQIA+ rights and visibility, and youth who continue the march forward. This grand marshal contingent includes individuals such as the organizer of Seattle’s first Pride celebration David Neth, as well as representatives from groups including Camp Ten Trees, GenPride, Lambert House, Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center, Seattle Public Schools, and South Park Senior Center – serving as a poignant tribute to Seattle’s LGBTQIA+ past, present, and promising future.

Each year the Seattle Pride Parade culminates Pride Month on the last Sunday of June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion. The Seattle Pride Parade is the state’s largest parade and single-day celebration – and one of the largest Pride parades nationally.

The Seattle Pride Parade takes place in downtown Seattle along Fourth Avenue (between Union Street and Denny Way). The day kicks off at the Westlake Park stage with pre-show entertainment at 10 a.m. followed by the parade step-off at 11 a.m.

The event is FREE along the Fourth Avenue parade route, though reserved grandstand seating is available for purchase at SeattlePride.org – while space lasts.

New this year is the Official Seattle Pride Parade Drag Brunch and Viewing Party taking place at Hilton Motif Seattle’s Frolik Kitchen & Cocktails. Produced by Wunderland Events + JaqsNetwork, Frolik’s rooftop deck offers an amazing, elevated view over the Fourth Avenue parade route starting line. Tickets are available at SeattlePride.org.

For those unable to attend in person, Seattle Pride’s official TV partner, KIRO 7, will livestream the first two hours of the parade on kiro7.com and on the KIRO 7 News apps for phone and TV. Plus, tune in to KIRO 7 later in the evening to catch Seattle Pride Parade coverage on KIRO 7 News at 11 p.m., followed by a half-hour Seattle Pride special at 11:30 p.m.

For a complete list of Pride Month events, updated as new events are announced, visit SeattlePride.org/Events or pick up the free Official Seattle Pride Guide available throughout the greater Seattle area in June.

About Seattle Pride

Seattle Out & Proud Foundation (Seattle Pride) is the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which produces the Seattle Pride Parade, Seattle Pride in the Park, and other pride-related events and promotions, as well as providing grants and sponsorship support to community-based LGBTQIA+ serving organizations driving lasting change of diversity, inclusivity, and equal human rights for all.