This year, a fantastic foursome of community leaders will serve as grand marshals for the Pittsburgh Pride March & Parade. The lineup includes Sarah Rosso, Maria Montaño, Reverend Deryck Tines, and Dr. Ken Ho.
On Sunday, June 7, at noon, the four grand marshals will march through the streets of Pittsburgh, across the Roberto Clemente Bridge, ending at Allegheny Commons Park West on the North Side, the site of the Pittsburgh Pride festival. The four are being recognized for their accomplishments in the LGBTQIA+ community.
LGBTQ and Labor advocate Maria Montaño was the first trans woman to serve as a press secretary in Pittsburgh and now works as the Manager of Public Affairs in the Allegheny County Treasurer’s Office. Montaño also serves as a commissioner on the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and the City of Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission.
Sara Rosso is the executive director of the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation, a community health organization serving LGBTQ and HIV-affected Pennsylvanians.
Dr. Ken Ho, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine, the Medical Director of the Pitt Men’s Study, Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, co-chair of AIDS-Free Pittsburgh, and president of 412Step, Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ country two-step, waltz, and line dance group. Dr. Ho’s research focuses on biomedical strategies for HIV prevention, and in particular, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and microbicide development.
Reverend Deryck Tines is an ordained minister of 45 years with the Free Holiness International Fellowship of Churches & Ministries, Inc., a musician, and a public-performance gospel singer in venues throughout Pittsburgh and beyond. Reverend Tines also runs Deryck Tines Consignments, a new consignment shop at 625 Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh.
Rosso said, “It’s exciting to be with this great group of people.”
For Rosso, it was a full-circle moment. She said, “When I was an undergrad, in the early 2000s, I served as a volunteer for the Pride committee and helped organize the parade and assist in choosing the grand marshal.”
Montaño said, “I am incredibly honored to serve as one of the grand marshals for Pride. There are four of us this year. It’s a beautiful reminder that it takes all of us. [Our enemies] want to separate us, but we can show them that we stand together. We are united.”
Dr. Ho said, “I’m honored that the community has considered having me represent them during Pride. I am so thankful.”
Montaño said, “Right now, LGBTQIA+ rights are under attack. There is a national and international conversation on trans rights. Legislators are trying to repeal our rights. Luckily, Governor Josh Shapiro will veto any legislation attacking our rights, but there is a coordinated attack to erase us. That’s why we must show the world that we stand together. We must keep showing up at Pride. We must show everyone that we are here. We must show our young people – especially trans and nonbinary people – that we are fighting for their future. That we will never stop fighting for the future.”
Dr. Ho said, “With the political climate, there has been a lot of stress and worry. The importance of Pride is that we come together and find healing in our community.”
Rosso said, “It’s important that we come together. It’s more important than ever.”
Reverend Tines emphasized Rosso’s words. He said, “In times of trouble, it’s important to show up. Everyone wants to be part of Pride when times are good, but it’s important to show up when times aren’t so good.”
Dr. Ho is hoping everyone has a happy and healthy Pride. He mentioned a recent uptick in Mpox cases and added, “Stay hydrated. Stay safe. Protect yourself and the people around you (with flu shots, Mpox vaccine, and PrEP).”
Reverend Tines said, “For me, as a faith leader, showing up and representing is the right thing to do.” The reverend added, “Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t belong. We are all God’s children. We all belong.”
New Route for 2026
The Pittsburgh Pride Parade steps off from Liberty Avenue and 11th Street Downtown at 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 7. The parade travels down Liberty Avenue to 6th Street and crosses the Roberto Clemente Bridge, up Federal Street and around South to West Commons to the Pittsburgh Pride festival at Allegheny Commons Park West. Line-up begins at 10 AM.