Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case that made same-sex marriage legal nationwide, will be grand marshal of the Russian River Pride parade Saturday in Guerneville, organizers said.
Obergefell co-owns Equality Vines, a wine company with a tasting room on Main Street, according to a Russian River Pride news release.
“He represents an extraordinary chapter in our community’s history, but he’s also part of the fabric of Guerneville through Equality Vines,” Russian River Pride 2026 co-chair Jeannine Luna said in the release.
The parade starts at noon. San Francisco Dykes on Bikes will lead, with Obergefell behind them and the San Francisco Pride Band playing, the release said. About 40 groups will march, co-chair Buddy Russell said in an email.
This year’s theme is “Let It Flow.” Russell said it’s about “the freedom to express our emotions, thoughts, creativity, and authentic selves.”
The free festival follows the parade. The main stage and a beer and wine garden will be in the Lark Drugs parking lot, and about two dozen vendors will set up on First Street and in Guerneville Plaza. Singer-songwriter Deidre McCalla headlines.
Main Street, which is also state Route 116, will close from just before noon until about 1 p.m., Russell said. He asked parade-goers to park along the roads into town or on Armstrong Woods Road without blocking driveways. Accessible parking is at 16324 Main St., but cars can’t enter or leave that lot while the street is closed.
Russian River Pride, an all-volunteer nonprofit, has given more than $78,000 in grants to local organizations, Russell said. River Arts, a Guerneville arts nonprofit, received a grant in 2024. Phil Tymon of River Arts said in a phone interview that the grant supported the group’s overall program, including its seasonal window art downtown and its murals. River Arts will march Saturday, and Tymon said anyone is welcome to walk with the group.
Pride events continue through Sunday. The full schedule is at russianriverpride.org.