3 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Netflix star Harper Steele, Will Ferrell's road trip buddy, named S.F. Pride Grand Marshal
Harper Steele, the Emmy-winning writer and star of the Netflix documentary ' Will & Harper,' has been named the 2025 Celebrity Grand Marshal for San Francisco Pride, organizers announced Friday, May 30.
Best known for her 13-year tenure at 'Saturday Night Live,' where she rose to head writer, Steele has emerged as a prominent voice in LGBTQ+ media.
Her recent turn in 'Will & Harper,' a road trip film with longtime friend Will Ferrell that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, has earned critical praise for its honest depiction of friendship and identity following Steele's gender transition.
'Harper's story is one of authenticity, imagination, and connection — all values that resonate most deeply with our community,' said Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride, in a statement. 'Her visibility and vulnerability are a powerful reminder that queer people can and must be celebrated in every context, including in media and entertainment.'
After leaving 'SNL,' Steele served as creative director at Funny or Die, where she co-wrote 'Casa de Mi Padre,' 'A Deadly Adoption' and 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.'
The Netflix documentary ' Will & Harper' follows Ferrell and Steele, who have been pals since Will was added to the cast of 'SNL' in 1995 when Steele was one of the show's top writers, known by a different first name.
After Steele came out as a woman following the pandemic, the two embarked on a cross-country road trip to reconnect and reflect. The journey, and the film, were sparked by Ferrell's realization that he knew little about the experiences and challenges faced by the transgender community.
Steele also felt nervous about doing the trip as a trans woman driving through small towns and states where there were anti-transgender legislation was in effect.
The documentary received positive reviews, with the Chronicle's G. Allen Johnson noting that Ferrell and Steele 'start with a deep empathy and understanding, and everything else follows.'
This year's Pride celebration, scheduled to take place June 28–29, will carry the theme 'Queer Joy is Resistance.'
The event is scheduled to kick off with the SF LGBT Center's second annual "Building the Block: House Party" on Saturday, May 31.
San Francisco Pride's 2025 community grand marshals include activist Kenan Arun, director of operations at the LGBT Asylum Project; Jahnel Butler, associate director of Trans Services at the San Francisco Community Health Center and a prominent figure in the queer ballroom scene as the 'mother' of the House of Chanel; Jessy Ruiz, a community volunteer who immigrated from Michoacán, Mexico, to escape violence in her home state; and Dr. Tyler TerMeer, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and co-chair of the AIDS United Public Policy Council.
The San Francisco Community Health Center was named Organizational Grand Marshal by community vote. Activist Tita Aida, also known as Nicky Calma, was honored as Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal for her longtime advocacy around HIV/AIDS awareness in AAPI and transgender communities.
