PRIDEChicago has announced that Wilson Cruz, an openly gay actor and a gay youth advocate, will be the grand marshal of this year’s 36th Annual Pride Parade, which kicks off June 26 at noon.
Cruz is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Ricki Vasquez on the television series My So-Called Life. His character was the first gay teenager to be featured on a regular series. Cruz came out publically in real life while on the show. His other credits include the shows Party of Five, Ally McBeal, and ER as well as the movies Party Monster, Supernova, and Johns.
In addition to his acting, Cruz is a gay youth advocate and was a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Gay Community Center’s teen program, where he worked regularly with homeless gay teenagers. As a teenager, Cruz himself was thrown out of his home for being gay.
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