The 2019 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade grand marshals are, from left, Mack “Marsha Dimes” Campbell and Jeff “Jenni P” Roose.
Mack Campbell, aka Marsha Dimes, and Jeff Roose, aka Jenni P have been elected grand marshals of the 2019 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, Dallas Pride Executive Director Jaron Turnbow announced today (Saturday, April 20).
This year’s Dallas Pride parade will be held Sunday, June 2, at 2 p.m at Fair Park. The Miller Lite Music Festival is set for Saturday, June 1, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., also at Fair Park. For information visit DallasPride.org.
Campbell has been involved with the Turtle Creek Chorale for many years, was named “Member of the Year” in 2018 and currently serves on the chorale board. He is involved with LifeWalk, which benefits Prism Health North Texas, and was named Best New Individual for raising more than $10,000. Since November 2017, Campbell has organized the bi-monthly Marsha & Friends Drag Brunch, each raising more than $2,500 to support LifeWalk. Marsha Dimes won the title of Miss Big Thickette in 2018 by being the person who raised the most money.
Professionally, Campbell has dedicated his career to fundraising, including spending time at Resource Center and Lambda Legal.
Roose is best known as Jenni P., and has been doing drag since 1990. He is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, where he competed in many pageants, including Miss Gay Ohio Great Lakes USofA 1995 and Miss Gay Cleveland Northcoast 1993. Since moving to Dallas 15 years ago, he has been doing shows and drag brunch at various clubs in Dallas for 13 years, including Marty’s LIVE, Dish Restaurant and Cedar Grove. He is currently Emcee and Show Director for Drag Brunch at Don’t Tell Supper Club in downtown Dallas.
Since moving to Dallas Roose has continued his craft as a professional make-up artist and traveling nationally for Lancome Cosmetics and Get Flawless Hair.
Other nominees were Krista De La Rosa, Asha Drennon aka Aundra Mikyles, Don Maison and Frank Martinez.
Did we run out of worthy Physicians, Lawyers, Councilman? Two Drag Queens as Grand Marshalls? We’re better than this Dallas.
Just out of curiosity, what’s wrong with drag queens? I mean, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the events that birthed the modern LGBT rights movement and that were led by the drag queens and the transgender women and the butch dykes, it seems wrong to suggest that only physicians, lawyers and councilmen are worthy of being grand marshals of the Pride parade —especially considering it is the drag queens who have been on the front lines for years in just about every battle this community has faced, including the HIV/AIDS epidemic.