INDIANAPOLIS (WOWO): Indy Pride has announced that Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is going to be the Grand Marshal at this year’s Pride Parade. 

The organization says their grand marshals are individuals that have made a significant contribution to the LGBT community and to society at large. 

President of Indy Pride Chris Morehead says the selection process is one of his favorite parts of preparing for the festival, and Ballard‘s record over the last year made him the perfect choice. He said that Ballard‘s stance during the RFRA controversy, affirming Indy as a welcoming city, is a great example of why he deserves the distinction. 

Mayor Ballard says his jaw dropped when they first asked him. He says that he is honored but that there are plenty of people doing more for the LGBT community. Ballard is a Republican and says he hopes that political parties would stop being part of the issue and everyone would work together to move forward. He says that his wife, Winnie Ballard, likes the idea and all of his friends and advisors fell it’s a great idea. 

The parade is happening on June 13th.