The Pride 2009 Grand Marshal title is divided into four categories: Men, Women, Honorary, and Organization.

The following men have been nominated by members of the community as significant figures in the GLBT community worthy of public recognition for their deeds and contributions. You may vote for any of these men at one of the locations listed on the events calendar. Regardless of title, we appreciate all the effort and voluntary action of each of these men in advancing awareness of GLBT issues.

KRIS BANKS

Kris Banks, 28, is a political activist for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. He was recently elected president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus after serving on its board of directors for one year. He is also the founder and outgoing president of the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats, a group of young LGBT Democrats and their supporters. Raised in Alvin, Texas, Kris has spent most of his life in the Houston area and has lived in Montrose for nearly four years. He earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Texas School of Journalism and a juris doctor from the University of Houston Law Center. He was worked as a newspaper reporter, handled constituent affairs for City Council Member Wanda Adams and currently works as a special projects manager for Neighborhood Centers Inc., Houston's largest nonprofit human services provider. Feeling his generation needed to become more politically aware and more organized, Kris called together the first meeting of the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats in March 2007. In just two years, the organization has grown, bringing in people who have never been involved in politics and looking to work to make a difference in our community, our state and our nation. Kris also became involved in the largest political organization for LGBT individuals in the city, the Houston GLBT Political Caucus. He was elected to its board of the directors in 2008 and was elected president in January. Over the next year, he plans to lead the organization to new heights to break barriers for the LGBT community. Kris also serves as secretary for the statewide organization of Young Democrats and represents them on the State Democratic Executive Committee, the governing body of the Texas Democratic Party. He also serves on the board of the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus.

JAMES KNAPP

For eight years, James Knapp has been the Artistic and Managing Director of the Bayou City Performing Arts, a choral umbrella organization that includes Gay Men's Chorus of Houston, Bayou City Women's Chorus, Bayou City Chorale (men and women) and Bayou Rhythms, a small ensemble of twelve singers. Gay Men's Chorus of Houston had been struggling with waning numbers prior to his appointment in 2001 with the average audience size was below 300 for concerts. Under Knapp's leadership, the chorus has grown to over 100 singers and has moved from local churches for performances to downtown venues; first the Wortham Center, then to the Hobby Center and, for the last three years, in residence at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, home of the Houston Symphony. The average audience size is now 1200. Under Knapp's direction GMCH has been called by Mayor Bill White "the best face of diversity" of Houston in his presentation of "Gay Men's Chorus Day" on June 13, 2004. GMCH has received several other accolades including; the Certificate of Congressional Recognition by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and Houston Press Award "Best Community Chorus" in 2006. Gay Men's Chorus of Houston has released four CDs and commissioned several newly created choral works by Gay composers to add to the GLBT choral repertoire. James Knapp's commitment to outreach in the GLBT community includes several fundraisers with the men's chorus for groups such as AIDS WALK/Foundation of Houston, Bering Omega House, Black Tie Dinner, Human Rights Campaign, EPAH, Bayou City Boys Club, Houston GLBT Chamber of Commerce, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, Legacy Clinic and Montrose Counseling Center. Knapp has also founded two new GLBT choruses. Always dreaming of a women's chorus and his commitment to the Lesbian community he started the Bayou City Women's Chorus (BCWC) in 2005. The group started with 12 singers at the first rehearsal and now has grown to over 50 singers of lesbian, bisexual and straight singers. In a very short amount of time, this relatively new chorus has produced a professional CD and was voted "Best Chorus" by Houston Press in 2007. Under Knapp's leadership, they have done fundraisers for AssistHers, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure - Houston Chapter and Imperial Court of Houston. Realizing the beautiful relationship between the singing men and the women of the GLBT community and its supporters, Knapp founded the Bayou City Chorale combining the talents of the men and women together. This group premiered at Jones Hall in 2007 with a benefit performance of SING FOR THE CURE for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Over 130 performers received a very favorable review from Houston Chronicle critic Charles Ward. Mayor White also proclaimed October 22, 2007 as Bayou City Performing Arts Day. The successes of Bayou City Chorale has lead to several invitations including singing at the Mayor's Tree Lighting Ceremony in 2007 televised on KHOU, and two collaborations with the Doctor's Orchestra of Houston in February and March 2009. In the summer of 2008, the Bayou City Performing Arts appeared at the Gay and Lesbian International Choral Festival in Miami, Florida, which included 5000 singers and 130 choruses from around the globe. Houston was the only city to present men, women, mixed chorus and a small ensemble under the same organization; three of the four performing groups commissioned a new choral work for this festival. 2008 also marked BCPA being named Gayest and Greatest Favorite Community Organization by the readers of OutSmart Magazine. Knapp has served on GLBT panels at local community colleges regarding GLBT issues in the arts and in 2006 was named the Artistic Director of GAY GAMES VII, Sports and Cultural Festival in Chicago, Illinois. He artistically represented the City of Houston and conducted a chorus of 300 singers from all over the world. Knapp has been the driving force for so many of the distinguished contributions of Bayou City Performing Arts to the GLBT community. He is a model visionary and leader. James Knapp has embodied the mission of excellence in music while providing a nurturing Environment for its membership and offered a tremendous source of pride, unity and support to the Houston GLBT community and beyond.

KEITH NAPPIER

Keith Nappier, "Shy Anne," moved to Houston 17 years ago from Mississippi by way of Louisiana where he got his first taste of fundraising. The experience of helping those less fortunate proved to be life changing. Keith discovered that his quick wit and ability to sing live could be used to raise money for local charities. During this phase of his life a hidden talent was unveiled - that of a "Female Illusionist." The persona of "Shy Anne" was soon born and has been entertaining and raising money to benefit those less fortunate for many years. Having a desire to become active in the Houston GLBT community Keith joined the Empire of the Royal Sovereign and Imperial Court of the Single Star (ERSICSS). Keith/Shy Anne has been a member of ERSICSS for 12 years and has received numerous honors that culminated in 2007 when Shy Anne was crowned Empress XXIII and one year later became the organization's board chair. Shy Anne has held many titles including Miss Chances 2001, Miss BRB 2002 and Miss Gay Pride 2005. Keith is an honorary member of the Krewe of Olympus and the Colt 45s and is the founder/producer of the annual Dykie Diva Contest benefiting Legacy Community Health Services' Women's Program. He is also the co-founder of the annual Mint Julep Contest/fundraiser held every year in July. Both of these successful benefits will enter their seventh year and, combined, have raised over $175,000 for Legacy Community Health Services. Professionally, Keith has worked at Legacy Community Health Services for the past six years and has helped countless members of the GLBT community access healthcare services. Organizations and individuals often turn to Keith/Shy Anne to help them raise money and he willingly gives of his time and talents to help those in need.

JOHN NECHMAN

John Nechman is a partner in the law office of Katine and Nechman L.L.P., where he focuses on immigration law. Born in Seoul, Korea to a Korean mother and American father, he is proudly an immigrant and a long-time immigration and human rights advocate in Houston and around the globe. He has lived in Houston since second grade and could not imagine permanently living anywhere else. John received his bachelor of arts degree in Spanish and International Business from the University of Texas in Austin. After graduating, he spent the next several years living, working, traveling, and advocating for gay rights issues in over 100 countries. He is fluent in Spanish and proficient in several other languages, including German, Portuguese, Italian, and Norwegian. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston, where he has served as an adjunct professor since 2003 teaching courses such as "Sexual Orientation and the Law" and "HIV and the Law." He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center and taught ESL and writing classes for 9 years at Houston Community College. He began working in immigration law and established a strong reputation, particularly on difficult asylum cases involving individuals seeking the protection of U.S. laws so as not to be forced to return to nations where they could be persecuted. In particular, he has become one of the nation's leading advocates on immigration issues affecting GLBT and HIV positive people. He has served as chair/president of several national, state, and local legal organizations, including the New York-based non-profit organization Immigration Equality and the Washington, D.C.-based National Lesbian and Gay Law Association. He is also a long-time member of and cooperating attorney with Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission, and he is a delegate to the International Lesbian and Gay Association. He is a frequent speaker on immigration, business, human rights, and GLBT/HIV-related legal issues, and he often speaks to students at Houston-area schools on such topics as the importance of jury duty, becoming a lawyer, and the dangers of drug and alcohol use. In 2007, he formed a grass-roots organization, People Opposed to Moving Pride Out of Montrose (POMPOM), which helped convince the Pride Committee of Houston not to move the Pride Parade from the Montrose area. He has twice been named a "Super Lawyer Rising Star" attorney by Texas Monthly Magazine and is the recipient of the 2004 Stonewall Law Award for Excellence in Advocacy, the Human Rights Campaign's 2005 Political Equality Award, the 2007 State Bar of Texas's Judge Norman Black Award, and the 2007 Outsmart Magazine Statue of Liberty Award. In 2005, Houston's Ballet Fiesta Mexicana presented him an award for his long-time support to the organization. In his free time, John and his partner Ricardo enjoy working on the gardens of their home in the forests of northeast Harris County, listening and dancing to Latin and world music and jazz, traveling, and discovering everything they can about Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast.

MARK NICHOLS, DDS

Dr. Mark Nichols is native to Southeast Texas and moved to Houston in the summer of 1978 to attend dental school. He has lived in Montrose for the past 15 years. Dr. Nichols began volunteering at the Bering Dental Clinic in 1987, when little was understood about AIDS and no proven dental infection protocols existed. Dr. Nichols and his colleagues developed many of the protocols used today and he has become one of the chief experts in the world concerning oral diseases found in compromised immune systems, such as those found in HIV/AIDS patients. Dr. Nichols is considered one of the foremost authorities on HIV oral pathology in the world today and is an internationally-recognized leader in HIV-specific dentistry who has trained dentists from the United States, Africa, China, India and South America. Over the years, Dr. Nichols has published countless academic articles concerning the treatment and prevention of oral pathologies in immune-deficient individuals. He has traveled around the world from Asia to South America delivering lectures on his expertise in the field of HIV. Under the direction of Dr. Nichols, Bering Omega's Dental Clinic quickly emerged as a leader in the field of HIV dentistry research, service and education. Our dental clinic currently has a training agreement with The University of Texas Dental Branch whereby residents receive hands-on postgraduate experience working with Dr. Nichols. The Dental Clinic has been a primary model for several similar clinics throughout the United States and as far away as China and in 2007, it became a United Nations model agency. Currently, Dr. Nichols volunteers his time at the Research IRB (Institutional Review Board) for the University of Texas Health Science Center and Memorial Hermann Hospital. On this board, he gives voice to the GLBT community in the research approval process.

MARK TIMMERS

Mark Timmers is a 26 year law enforcement veteran. He graduated from the Houston Police Department Academy in 1982, and worked as an HPD officer from 1982 to 1987. He then joined the Harris County Constable's Office (Precinct 6) and has worked as a deputy constable from 1987 to the present. He is widely respected for his years in animal cruelty investigation, saving countless animals from neglect and abuse. He has helped provide the evidence for prosecuting and bringing to justice numerous dog fighting rings. Timmers has been an out and proud officer for more than two decades, helping to change homophobia from within by winning the admiration and support of his peers. He works in a low-key manner helping prospective officers understand how to become policemen and also be out on the job. He also works with many homeless gay youth. In November 2008, Timmers was wounded while coming to the rescue of a night club patron who was shot in a parking lot altercation. Local channel KHOU produced a short news segment about the incident and Timmers' heroism. Timmers was also the subject of the November 2008 OutSmart cover story entitled "Animal Cop". Timmers grew up in Minnesota, where he regularly stood between playground bullies and their intended targets. As a law enforcement officer, he has been routinely threatened with knives, shovels and guns, and has had his nose broken several times while subduing lawbreakers. He has a gay twin sister, has lost two partners to AIDS, and recently celebrated his fifth anniversary with his partner Daniel Huerto. Together, they live in Montrose and act as adoptive parents to an ever-changing group of homeless animals. They are especially fond of Chihuahuas. Mark Timmers is proud of his badge, proud of his uniform, and proud of being a part of Houston's GLBT community.

JEFF WALLACE

Jeff Wallace was born and raised in Florida, graduated from Emory University and moved to Houston in 1985 after accepting a position with Texas Commerce Bank with whom he stayed for 23 years, watching the changes to Chase, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of New York and finally to Bank of New York Mellon. Jeff says, "The best part of finding my home in Houston is the connection I made with AIDS Foundation Houston (AFH). I started volunteering there in 1987 after watching a performance of "The Normal Heart" at the Alley Theater." Jeff became involved in the Buddy Program, interacting one-on-one with five young men that lost the battle. The past several years he has directed his efforts towards corporate awareness, but he further explains that his fulfilling work has been his involvement with children through Camp Hope ) AFH's week-long Summer camp program for which he has been volunteer counselor for 12 years. "I can't really describe all the emotions and fullness of life I feel when a small child asks me to pick them up, give them a hug and ask that I don't let go just before they have to board a bus to take them back to the reality of home. Camp is their only outlet during the year where they can forget all of their problems and just be a kid." Jeff has also served on the board of AFH since 1999 as Treasurer and he still serves as a member of the executive board. Jeff has been involved with other GLBT organizations that have been just as rewarding, but in different ways. He is a founding member of the GLB T Chamber of Commerce, and served the board for several years as Treasurer and Vice President, and joined re-joined the board. During his time at Texas Commerce Bank / Chase Bank Jeff became a founding member of what is now the JPMorganChase PRIDE Team, which at the time was a very instrumental advocate of corporate domestic partner benefits. Other community based organizations with which Jeff has been involved includes the Colt 45's, The Imperial Court of Houston (ICOH) - Space City Empire (for which he has served on the board and co-president), a host member of Bunnies on the Bayou and this year as treasurer of the Executive and Professional Association of Houston (EPAH). Jeff has chaired AIDS Walk Teams, organized Pride Parade entries, and working on numerous community projects such as revitalizing the Bering Dental Clinic's patient waiting room, building a wheel chair ramp at the Community Center, repainting the exam rooms at The Rose Women's Clinic, and organizing family days at AFH Friendly Haven - home for women and children with HIV. Jeff's community volunteer work has been recognized in numerous forums including being voted OutSmart Magazine's Gayest and Greatest Outstanding Male Volunteer for 2007 and 2008, the President's Award for the Colt 45's, the Founder's Award for ICOH, the Barry Petree Community Commitment Award and the Mayor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. Jeff and his partner Sean Carter (a past Grand Marshal) have 2 "kids" (their German Shepherd "Mahal" and English Golden Lab "Dakota"). After becoming a casualty of the financial collapse, Jeff is currently enjoying his volunteer work while he decides what he wants to be when grows up!