Greater Palm Springs Pride announced today the Grand Marshals for the annual Palm Springs Pride Parade. This year’s marshals are: Recognized as the National Grand Marshals are the fallen who lost their lives in the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in U.S. history. Highlighting anti-LGBT violenceand paying tribute to the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Fla. marchers from Palm Springs’ lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied communities will carry signs with names and pictures of each victim lost in the June 12 Pulse nightclub shooting. “We will honor and remember the victims of the June 12 shooting and we will stand up for others who have lost their lives to anti-LGBT violence,” said Ron deHarte, President of Greater Palm Springs Pride.

Honored, as Grand Marshal, is award winning writer, director, and producer Del Shores.He has a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, has received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, and in 2006, Mayor Ron Oden presented Shores with a Key to the City and proclaimed Sordid Lives Day in the City of Palm Springs. Shores wrote and directed the film version of Sordid Lives starring:Beau Bridges, Delta Burke, Olivia Newton-John, Bonnie Bedelia, and Leslie Jordan. The movie became a cult phenomenon and holds the record forthe longest running film in the history of Palm Springs with a record ninety-six weeks. The desert loves Del Shores, as can be seen, over the years with six sold out productions of his play “Sordid Lives” at the Palm Canyon Theatre, eleven sold out shows at the Annenberg Theatre and twelve sold out standup comedy shows.His film Southern Baptist Sissies was the opening night film and Audience Award Winner for Cinema Diverse in 2013. Has served on boards and performed or produced benefits for numerous organizationsincluding: AID Atlanta, Appetite 4Life, Desert Aids Project, Different Roads Home, Family Equality Council, Joining  Hearts, Marriage Equality USA, Matthew Shepard Foundation, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Resource Center Dallas, and The Trevor Project. Shores is credited with raising awareness of LGBT visibility on television, in the theatre and on stage through his work. This includes his films Sordid Lives, and Southern Baptist Sissies, and television credits for writing and executive producingQueer As Folk (Seasons 3, 4, 5), Sordid Lives: The Series, and his plays Sordid Lives, Southern Baptist Sissies, and Yellow. Shores just completed principal photography for the final chapter of his Sordid Lives franchise – A Very Sordid Wedding. The film stars many of the Sordid veterans including Bonnie Bedelia, Leslie Jordan, Caroline Rhea, Dale Dickey and Ann Walker with cameos by Whoopi Goldberg, Alec Mapa and Carole Cook. The story advances the characters sixteen years, posing the question: What happens when marriage equality comes marching into Winters, Texas? A Very Sordid Variety Show Benefitting Palm Springs Pride is scheduled forOctober 21 at the Purple Room, in Palm Springs. The benefit will support Palm Springs Pride’s efforts to keep Pride free and accessible for everyone. The evening of comedy, songs and performances will star Del Shores, Ann Walker, Newell Alexander, Rosemary Alexander, and other castmembersfrom the movie. Plus, stories from the Sordid Lives Sequel, “A Very Sordid Wedding.”  Tickets are available by clicking here.

Recognized as Community Grand Marshal is Palm Springs’ very own singer-entertainer Nicky Ciampoli. Acclaimed for his performances as the legendary Broadway star Carol Channing, Nicky entertains audiences and is often seen fundraising for local organizations. For the last ten years, Nicky has performed in his own shows and donated his time to a variety of groups including the Desert AIDS Project, the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, Angel View, Save-A-Pet, Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Toys for Tots, La Quinta Hearts for the Arts, the Christmas Foundation and Emerald Kingdom of Palm Springs. Nicky Ciampoli said, “There are so many great organizations here in the Valley and they all are important and to choose just one you can't. When you have the ability to bring attention to these organizations through entertainment, I feel it’s your duty to use your talents to help them.” “I have loved Palm Springs and the CoachellaValley for many years. I’m so grateful to be recognized as the Community Grand Marshal. I’ll be riding in the parade with much Pride and much appreciation for the many wonderful people, local businesses, performers, friends, family and the audiences who have supported me thru the years,”added Ciampoli.

Awards will be presented to the Grand Marshals at OUT PSP: A Kick Off to Pride, on November 4, 2016. The marshals will ride in the Pride Parade on November 6. The parade steps off at 10am at Palm Canyon Dr. and Tachevah and proceeds downtown on Palm Canyon Dr. to the main entrance of the Pride Festival at W. Amado Rd. Tickets and event details for OUT PSP are available by clicking here.

Greater Palm Springs Pride is a nonprofit community enhancement organization founded to promote the public education and awareness of individual rights and civil liberties of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and to promote the history, diversity and future prosperity of the Greater Palm Springs LGBT community. Palm Springs Pride has been a tireless advocate for equality and diversity since the first Coachella Valley Pride event was held in 1986. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization brings together the skills, talents and vision of our diverse community through its programs which include the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, Pride Honors Awards, OUT PSP a food and drink event, the Pride Parade, Pride Festival, the unique Pet Pride Parade, and the downtown Arenas Rd. Block Party. For more information about Greater Palm Springs Pride, click here Follow us on Facebook  by clicking here.

The 2016 Palm Springs Pride Week is scheduled for Nov. 1 – 6, 2016.