Among the vehicles carrying grand marshals at the Pittsburgh Pride Parade this year, one convertible traveled the parade route without a passenger.
The empty vehicle was included in honor of Kathi Boyle, a longtime community leader and 2011 Pittsburgh Pride Grand Marshal who died on May 31, just days before the start of Pittsburgh Pride.
Organizers reserved a place for Boyle in the procession, positioning the unoccupied convertible alongside the vehicles carrying this year’s grand marshals. The tribute served as both a memorial and a recognition of Boyle’s lasting impact on Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community.
The symbolism of an empty place in a ceremonial procession has a long history. In military funerals, a riderless horse is often used to honor a fallen leader whose place remains recognized. Pittsburgh Pride organizers employed a similar gesture, using the empty convertible to represent a community member whose contributions continue to be remembered.
Rather than separating the memorial from the celebration, the tribute incorporated Boyle directly into the parade’s opening procession. The reserved space acknowledged her role in Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ history and the work of past generations of LGBTQ+ leaders who helped build the community celebrated today.
For many spectators, the vehicle offered a quiet moment of reflection amid the music, color, and festivities that filled the parade route. While Pride is a celebration of visibility, resilience, and community, the tribute also highlighted the importance of remembering those whose leadership helped make those celebrations possible.
By reserving a place among the grand marshals, organizers ensured Boyle’s presence was felt throughout the parade. The empty convertible served as a visible reminder that although she was no longer able to participate in the event, her place in Pittsburgh Pride history remains.
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