Grand Marshals Named for PS Pride Parade

Two individuals with unassailable ties to the region will serve as the Grand Marshals for the annual Pride parade on Nov. 3, Greater Palm Springs Pride has announced.

Michael C. Green has been named Community Grand Marshal and Alexander Rodriguez will serve as Media Grand Marshal of the 2019 Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade.

Green is recognized for having a positive impact in the region through the support he’s provided to community organizations and fundraising efforts large and small for nearly 20 years.

On-air personality Rodriguez made LGBT television history as a co-host for LATV’s Glitterbomb, the first ever Latin LGBT themed national television programming. He also currently writes for Gay Entertainment Magazine, Instinct Magazine, I Love Gay LGBT, Queer Forty and Bear World Magazine.

“In the year that Pride in Palm Springs will be host to the largest gathering of LGBTQ people ever gathered in the city of Palm Springs, it’s fitting for the Community Grand Marshal to be one of the valley’s most active advocates for tourism,” Ron deHarte, president and CEO of Greater Palm Springs Pride, said in a news release

As an advocate for valley tourism, Green is president of the Desert Gay Tourism Guild, is past president and former board member of the Palm Springs Hospitality Association, and a member of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism’s Planning, Budget and Joint Advisory. He also helped found and currently chairs the Palm Springs Small Hotel Tourism Business Improvement District Board.

Palm Springs has always been a part of Rodriguez’s life. He spent his summers here from third grade through college while visiting his grandmother who owned El Poco Lodge on Arenas Road. The Lodge is now the Andalusian Court Hotel. These days you can see Rodriguez representing his radio show making regular appearances throughout the city popping up on KGAY with John Taylor and Shann Carr and hosting Pride Pool Parties with Gay Desert Guide.

Rodriguez hosts the nationally syndicated, weekly, entertainment radio show “On The Rocks with Alexander: Where Celebrities & Cocktails Mix” on iHeartRadio, HERE TV, Pandora, Roku and more. He chats with big-name guests from classic to current Hollywood, reality TV, pop culture and music, meshing celebs from all walks of life to draw together a truly diverse listener base regardless of age, orientation or gender.

“Alexander has been a part of our Pride festivities for the last 3 years as emcee for the Main Stage on Arenas and hosting many of the weekends highlight events,” DeHarte said. “He generously gives of his time and connections bringing a lot of attention to the city’s charitable events throughout the year with his many radio, TV and hosting appearances.  In addition to serving as emcee for many high-profile events, Alexander’s volunteerism has included service on numerous nonprofit boards that have focused on youth, health, justice, senior nourishment and isolation, social services and community theatre. Plus, he is just a joy to be around.”

This year’s Grand Marshals honor Palm Springs history and the World Pride theme while celebrating the future of our community.

Awards will be presented to the Grand Marshals at a pre-Parade Breakfast, at the Regional Medical Center’s El Mirador Tower Building the morning of the parade on Nov. 3. Tickets for the breakfast are available by clicking here.

The marshals will ride in the Pride Parade . The parade steps off at 10 a.m. at Palm Canyon Drive and Tachevah and proceeds downtown on Palm Canyon Drive to the main entrance of the Pride Festival at Amado.  The festival is free.