Radio show host of the most-listened-to Top 40 morning show in the U.S., Elvis Duran, will preside over the 2016 Miami Beach Gay Pride parade and festival as Grand Marshal, announced Mark Fernandes, chair of the Pride Board of Directors.
As Grand Marshal, Duran will lead the enthusiastic and colorful parade that is expected to draw more than 100,000 spectators on Sunday, April 10. The Miami Beach Gay Pride parade kicks off at noon along famed Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th Streets and will be followed by the Pride Festival with live performances from multiple stages, as well as over 100 community booths and refreshments.
Duran’s radio career has spanned 30 years and has included both host and program director duties at Philadelphia’s WIOQ and Austin’s KBTS, as well as stints at Z-93 in Atlanta and KRBE Houston. He began hosting his daily radio show on New York’s Z100 in April 1996. Since then, the show has enjoyed much success resulting in a national deal in March 2009 with the country’s leading radio syndication company, Premiere Networks, a subsidiary of iHeart Media. “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show” added more than 30 stations in the first year of syndication and today, the program can be heard in nearly 80 markets, including Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Cleveland, Austin, Milwaukee, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Richmond, Rochester, Dayton, Des Moines, Spokane and Wichita.
Duran served as an event chair for the GLAAD Manhattan Awards in 2012, where he was also honored for his contributions to the LGBTQ community.
In addition to his broadcasting career, Duran is a committed philanthropist. He’s the co-chair of Rosie’s Theater Kids, an organization that brings enrichment through theater and the arts to underprivileged Manhattan children. With a soft spot for animals, he serves on the board of directors for Rock & Rawhide, a non-profit organization that aims to increase adoptions while also providing a quieter, stress-free life for animals surrendered to shelters. Duran also contributes to the Staten Island Zoo’s annual endowment and Robin Hood, which fights poverty in New York City.
Since its inception in 2009, Miami Beach Gay Pride has grown from a neighborhood event to an event on the global stage with A-list celebrities such as Mario Lopez as Grand Marshal in 2015, Gloria Estefan as Grand Marshal in 2014 and Adam Lambert performing in 2013. Attendance has grown as well. An estimated 15,000 spectators turned out for the first Pride parade in 2009; an estimated 130,000 attended the event in 2015, which attracted not only South Floridians, but also visitors from throughout the world.
In addition to Parade spectators, last April’s event included more than 65 parade contingencies, 35 floats and 2,700 participants. The Pride Festival which followed featured more than 100 LGBTQ-friendly vendors and businesses, plus refreshments, two stages of entertainment, a family-friendly play area and fireworks. Recently, Miami Beach Gay Pride was named one of the “Top 100 Events of the Year” for the second year in a row by BizBash Magazine and won the Pink Flamingo Award for “Favorite Event” for the third year.
The mission of Miami Beach Gay Pride is to bring together members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, their friends, allies, and supporters in celebration of the unique spirit and culture of the LGBTQ community. Miami Beach Gay Pride organizes free, safe, quality, mass-appeal events that are open to all, including the annual parade and festival, which features community booths and expo areas, stages with entertainment, food and drink vendors and family-safe play areas. Additionally, Miami Beach Gay Pride produces educational, cultural and entertainment events and activities throughout the year and sanctions official Pride-related events in order to create a truly celebratory experience for the whole community.
Miami Beach Gay Pride is produced with the support of the Miami Beach Visitors and Convention Authority. For more information, visit www.miamibeachgaypride.com.
