The two honorees will be featured in the Dallas Pride Festival and the inaugural Sunset Parade on Main, which will take place in the heart of downtown Dallas.
DALLAS — Dallas Pride has announced Reverend Rachel Griffin-Allison and City Council Member Chad West as the two Grand Marshals to lead this year’s Pride Festival and Parade in Downtown Dallas.
In a press release, the non-profit says both represent this year’s theme, “Rainbows Don’t Wash Away,” and embody the persistence and brilliance of the LGBTQ+ movement and its allies.
“Their work ensures that the progress we have made is not just celebrated but sustained,” the press release reads.
Reverend Griffin-Allison is the Senior Pastor of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas, which is known for its diverse congregation. Rev. Griffin-Allison is also the founder of Safe Spaces Lebanon, a nonprofit supporting refugee children and families. Rev. Griffin-Allison earned her Master of Theological Studies from Drew Theological School and her Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at SMU.
Council Member Chad West currently serves District 1 on the Dallas City Council, which represents North Oak Cliff. Originally from Southern Illinois, West chose Dallas for its entrepreneurial energy and welcoming LGBTQ+ community. Before joining the City Council, West served on the Dallas City Plan Commission, where he helped shape policies like inclusionary zoning and accessory dwelling units to expand housing access. During his council terms, he’s continued work on walkable neighborhoods, housing affordability, and long-term planning that reflects the diversity of Dallas residents.
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This year’s Dallas Pride celebration will feature the signature Festival of Rainbows and the inaugural Sunset Parade on Main. The festival will be held Sunday, June 6, at Main Street Garden Park, Pegasus Plaza, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Pacific Plaza, Harwood Park, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The parade will be the same day from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Main Street from Field Street to Harwood Street.