San Francisco Pride announced Friday that trans Emmy-winning comedy writer and producer Harper Steele has been named this year’s celebrity grand marshal for the 2025 San Francisco Pride parade and celebration. Steele was featured in a critically acclaimed documentary, “Will & Harper,” with longtime friend and “Saturday Night Live” alum Will Ferrell.
Steele, a longtime “Saturday Night Live” writer and co-creator of several films and digital comedy hits, received renewed acclaim as the subject of “Will & Harper,” which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film, now streaming on Netflix, follows a road trip across America with Steele and Ferrell, her longtime friend. The film centers on their friendship following Steele’s gender transition, celebrating queer resilience and joy, a news release from SF Pride stated.
"San Francisco Pride is honored to welcome Harper Steele as this year's celebrity grand marshal," stated San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford, a transgender woman. "Harper's story is one of authenticity, imagination, and connection – all values that resonate most deeply with our community. Her visibility and vulnerability are a powerful reminder that queer people can and must be celebrated in every context, including in media and entertainment."
A native of Iowa City, Iowa, and a graduate of the University of Iowa, Steele spent 13 years as a writer on “Saturday Night Live,” eventually becoming head writer. After “SNL,” she served as creative director for Funny or Die, a comedy website and production company, where she co-wrote “Casa de Mi Padre,” “A Deadly Adoption,” and “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga,” which starred Ferrell as part of an Icelandic duo trying to win the music contest.
An email seeking comment sent to Steele’s agents was not immediately returned.
San Francisco Pride’s theme for 2025 is “Queer Joy is Resistance,” and Steele’s participation underscores the message of community, joy and shared humanity, SF Pride officials noted.
Community grand marshals for San Francisco Pride were announced last month. They are: queer activist Kenan Arun; Jahnell Butler, known in the ballroom scene and a trans health advocate; Jessy Ruiz, a trans woman and immigrant who has served on the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission; and Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D., a gay Black man living with HIV who is CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Tita Aida, aka Nicky Calma, is this year’s lifetime achievement grand marshal. She is a trans woman who has dedicated her career to community health and serves as managing director of the San Francisco Community Health Center, which two years ago opened its Trans Thrive program.
The San Francisco Community Health Center is this year’s organizational grand marshal.
SF Pride weekend is set for June 28-29. For more information, visit sfpride.org.
