Nashville Pride Parade Grand Marshals and Equality Award Winners Announced, include TJ Osborne and Leslie Jordan

Festival and Parade to celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride in downtown Nashville

NASHVILLE, TN (4/21/2022 ) – Nashville Pride has announced this year’s Pride Parade Grand Marshals that include TJ Osborne (Brothers Osborne), Leslie Jordan (comedian and actor), and community leaders, Greg Cason and Alberta Hardison. The Grand Marshals will lead this year’s Nashville Pride Parade that returns to world-famous Broadway on Saturday, June 25. The parade kicks off at 10:00 am starting at Broadway and 8th Ave to kick off Pride weekend in Nashville.

Nashville Pride will also honor this year’s Equality Award winners including Terry Vo (Mark Manasco Community Service Award) and Pam Kelner (Ally Award). Both will be honored on the main stage at the festival alongside the grand marshals on Saturday, June 25.

The annual Nashville Pride Parade will feature more than 110 entries including marchers, floats, vehicles, marching bands, and more. The parade is free to attend and more information will be released by Nashville Pride in the coming weeks.

TJ Osborne – TJ Osborne is a singer/songwriter, Grammy winner, producer, and one-half of the award-winning country duo Brothers Osborne. A native of Deale, Maryland, he (alongside his brother, John) has earned 5 CMA and 6 ACM awards, 10 Grammy nominations, plus multiple RIAA GOLD and PLATINUM certifications. Known for his distinct lead vocals set to the pair’s ferocious country-rock sound, his “gorgeous baritone” (Billboard) has been praised by NPR as that of “a classic country crooner, with a little Eddie Vedder thrown in.” With a voice that impacts beyond hit songs, TJ was at the forefront of a historic moment for the country genre when he publicly came out to TIME in February 2021, making him the only openly gay artist signed to a major country label. His story inspired the duo’s Grammy-award-winning song, “Younger Me,” featured on their latest studio release, Skeletons Deluxe.

Leslie Jordan – Leslie Jordan is one of the most consistently recognizable faces in popular entertainment. His journey towards stardom has provided one of the quirkier, impressive, and varied career trajectories of the past few decades. Through it all, Leslie Jordan has remained constant, relevant, and — above all — funny! Leslie Jordan is the prestigious 2006 Emmy Award winner for the comedy sitcom “Will & Grace” and is currently starring in Fox’s comedy series as Phil in “Call Me Kat”. Other notable roles in the Cool Kids, American Horror Stories, The Help and countless more in 2021 Leslie Jordan released his debut gospel album Company’s Comin’ with Platoon Records, and his second book “How Y’all Doing “hit #4 on the New York Times Best Seller List.

Greg Cason – Greg Cason is the owner of Inspired Concepts and Events and is a Purchasing Manager at Nissan North America. He has held various board positions with several nonprofit organizations such as Nashville Pride, Mash-Up, Mahogany Honors Awards, Common Ground Cooperative, and former Vice President of the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the LGBT Advisory Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. He’s often seen volunteering with numerous organizations when he’s not spending time with his husband, Landry Boyle, daughters, Alnecia and Keiterria Cason, and his six grandchildren.

Alberta Hardison – Alberta Hardison was born and raised in Nashville, TN, where she continues to carry on the mantle of activism work that is prevalent in her family history. She began her work with the HIV community in 1998 as a trial participant for the Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program and joined their Community Advisory Board shortly thereafter. Hardison has now been their Chair for over 10 years, and she continues her volunteerism by working with a multitude of other organizations. She continually uses her voice to make sure that everyone is able to be heard in all circumstances on every issue. She uses her knowledge of community activism to educate others and spread knowledge wherever she goes.

The 2022 Nashville Pride Festival is presented by Bridgestone and Nissan and supported by Amazon, Music City PrEP Clinic, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands, El Jimador Tequila, Herradura Tequila, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, Journey’s, AllianceBernstein, Dollar General, Vanderbilt Health, Tractor Supply, Mars Petcare, Gresham Smith, WSMV News 4, NowPlayingNashville, Do615, Nashville Guru, The East Nashvillian, Nashville Scene,107.5 The River, iHeartRadio, Lightning 100, Connect, Focus, and OUTvoices among many others.