Durbin’s office confirmed the appearance with The News-Gazette on Thursday, as did Josh Laskowski, organizer of the Pride Festival and Parade.
“I think it’s so exciting,” Laskowski said. “We’re going to have representatives not only at the city government level but also at the state level with Senator Scott Bennett to the national level with Senator Durbin.”
Durbin, a Democrat from Springfield and the Democratic Whip in the Senate, has proven “time and time” again that he is an ally for equality, including for the LGBT community, Laskowski said.
“That’s the biggest message we’re trying to get across to people. It doesn’t matter what the color of your skin is or who you love. At the end of the day we’re all equal,” he said.
Durbin said it’s an honor to be the Pride Parade marshal.
“We’ve come a long way as a country with regard to LGBT equality and civil rights, and we should be proud of what we’ve accomplished,” he said. “But there is much more work to be done to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, whether it occurs in the workplace, housing, education or public accommodations.
“Intolerance and bigotry have no place in the modern world, and I will always be a strong ally of the LBGT community in that fight.”
The third annual Pride Parade will start at 3 p.m. in downtown Champaign and is part of a weekend of Pride festivities.
The first Pride Parade grand marshal was Kevin Bowersox-Johnson, who was integral in founding the UP Center of Champaign County, which organizes the annual Pride Festival and Parade.
Last year, Jade Sotomayor, a contestant in the first season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” on VH1 and Logo, was the parade marshal, appearing in his drag queen persona. He lives in Chicago but will return for this year’s parade.
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