David Furnish will be Pride Toronto’s 2015 grand marshal

Elton John’s husband to lead parade

Pride Toronto announced that this year’s grand marshal will be David Furnish, chairman of the Elton John AIDS foundation and — oh, just a minor detail — Elton John’s husband.

“We are so pleased that David Furnish will lead the Toronto Pride Parade,” says Mathieu Chantelois, Pride Toronto executive director, in a press release. “We are all incredibly proud of the accomplishments of this fellow Toronto native son and his extraordinary leadership as chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.”

Aside from his charity work, Furnish is probably most famous for his 1995 documentary Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras. He also, along with John, helped develop Billy Elliot into its award-winning musical theatre adaptation.

“I am humbled by this great honour from Pride Toronto to serve as the 2015 grand marshall,” Furnish says in a press release. “Toronto has always been home, and I’m proud and grateful for this opportunity to stand up for human rights and equality for all, as well as represent my home city, by the parade leader of one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world.”

Furnish will join international marshal Celina Jaitly, Bollywood star and LGBT rights activist, in the upcoming Pride festivities.

No word yet if Furnish’s husband will join him during the Pride festivities. But one can dream.

Andrew was formerly the associate editor for Daily Xtra.

Read More About:
Culture, Music, News, Toronto, Europe, Pride

Keep Reading

The cover of 'I Remember Lights'; Ben Ladouceur

‘I Remember Lights’ is a time machine trip to Montreal’s gay past

Ben Ladouceur’s rigorously researched new novel is romantic, harrowing and transportive
A black and white photo of speakers at a rally; a sign that says "Love and Let Love" hangs behind them

‘Parade’ invites us to embrace queer history to tackle the present

Noam Gonick’s new documentary turns the spotlight on Canada’s long-overlooked LGBTQ2S+ activists to tell their stories
Countess Luann holding a microphone

Countess Luann on cabaret superstardom, Kenya Moore and life after ‘The Real Housewives’

“Elegance is learned, my friends,” and the Countess’s class is in session
Sam Star with an up arrow behind her; Onya Nurve with a down arrow behind her

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 17, Episode 13 power ranking: A frozen final five

No one goes home this week, with one in-season competition episode remaining