Palm Springs
Greater Palm 
Springs Pride has announced the Grand Marshals for the annual Palm Springs Pride Parade. This year’s marshals are Navy SEAL Kristin Beck, singer-entertainer and restaurateur Michael Holmes, and Fitness expert Craig Ramsay and celebrity hairstylist Brandon Liberati.
Retired United States Navy SEAL Kristin Beck has been named as the National Grand Marshal. Kristin Beck, born Christopher Beck, is known to be the first female Navy SEAL. Beck distinguished herself in 20 years of exceptionally meritorious service with Special Operations Forces (SOF) in the U.S. Navy SEAL teams before retiring in 2011 and after taking part in thirteen deployments, including seven combat deployments. She was a member of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), a special counter-terrorism unit SEAL Team Six, and received multiple military awards and decorations, including a Bronze Star with a “V” for valor, a Purple Heart and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
“We are proud to work with the Transgender Community Coalition to honor Kristin Beck who is a nationally recognized advocate for equality for all people. Beck’s participation allows us to honor her service and help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people, and address the issues the community faces,” said Ron deHarte, President of Greater Palm Springs Pride.
Recognized as Community Grand Marshal is Palm Springs’ very own singer-entertainer and restaurateur Michael Holmes. Owner of Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, the leader of The Michael Holmes Trio, and the creator and star of The Judy Show!, Michael is recognized for his generosity in supporting the local community. From entertaining to hosting a wide variety of charity benefits, Michael Holmes makes a positive and lasting impact on Palm Springs.
Not content to just run a successful business, Michael also participates in the local community fulfilling a personal goal to give back. You can see Michael regularly hosting a wide variety of charity benefits, for diverse charities including the American Cancer Society, the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, The LGBT Center of the Desert, Dezart Productions, the Gay Men’s Chorus, David Green’s Musical Theatre University, Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival, and Dine Out For Life.
Fitness expert Craig Ramsay and celebrity hairstylist Brandon Liberati who shared their first year of marriage with the world on the Bravo show “Newlyweds: The First Year,” have been named Celebrity Grand Marshals of the 2017 Palm Springs Pride Parade.
Craig and Brandon are no strangers to Palm Springs. They love the city so much they were married at the Riviera Resort on May 11, 2014. When Craig and Brandon decided to tie the knot they also decided to share their love with the world. Their nuptials were filmed for their Bravo show and appeared in the premiere episode. They were the first federally legal same-sex married couple on national
television. As America watched Brandon and Craig’s love story unfold, the couple found themselves at the forefront of marriage equality. They utilized this new platform to change hearts and minds around the globe.
Awards will be presented to the celebrity and community Grand Marshals at OUT PSP: A Kick Off to Pride, on October 25, 2017. The national grand marshal will be recognized at the VIP Pre-Parade Breakfast, at the Regional Medical Center’s El Mirador Tower Building the morning of the parade. Tickets for the breakfast are available at www.bit.ly/PreParty17. All marshals will ride in the Pride Parade on November 5. 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 at www.bit.ly/outpsp.
ABOUT GREATER PALM SPRINGS PRIDE
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 2017 Palm Springs Pride Week is scheduled for November 3-5, 2017. 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.
