Luke Prokop Named Grand Marshal of the 2025 Milwaukee Pride Parade

MILWAUKEE, WI – [5/8/2025] – Milwaukee Pride Parade is proud to announce that Luke Prokop, defenseman for the Milwaukee Admirals and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in professional sports, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Milwaukee Pride Parade, taking place Sunday, June 8 at 2 PM.

At just 19 years old, Prokop made history by becoming the first NHL-contracted player to publicly come out as gay – a powerful moment that reshaped representation in hockey. Now 23, he continues to inspire as the first openly gay player to compete in an American Hockey League game, suiting up with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2023, he is still currently playing on the team.

Recently, Pride Parade Board Members Brad Yates and Val Benner sat down with Luke to talk about what this role means to him. Though he’s only been in Milwaukee a short time, Luke shared how meaningful the local LGBTQ+ community has already become to him.

“To be the Grand Marshal for this year’s Milwaukee Pride Parade is a real honor for me,” said Prokop. “I’ve only been in the city for a short amount of time playing my season for the Admirals, but I’ve gotten to meet a ton of amazing people in the queer community here. Getting to know them and their stories – it’s an honor to celebrate with them and enjoy the moment, especially at a time when we should be celebrated and celebrate ourselves. So it should be really cool.”

Prokop, who previously marched in the Toronto Pride Parade, also spoke about his philosophy of leadership: “I want to be a leader by action, not by voice.”

Milwaukee Pride is grateful and excited to have Luke represent this year’s theme—Remember, Resist, Rejoice—through his authenticity, strength, and solidarity. His presence is a powerful reminder that visibility in every space matters, and that joy is its own form of resistance.

The 2025 Milwaukee Pride Parade marks the 21st year of this beloved community tradition. The event will kick off at 2 PM on Sunday, June 8, following its classic route down 2nd Street from Scott Street to Seeboth Street. Thousands are expected to gather to uplift LGBTQ+ history, celebrate community, and stand against ongoing challenges.

Enhanced safety measures will be in place, including third-party security, a coordinated police presence, and clear public safety communications before and during the event.

Community members and organizations are encouraged to get involved:

• Sponsorship deadline: May 10th to be included on 2025 signage | donations accepted year-round
• Parade registration deadline: May 27th
• Volunteers needed: For setup, staging, parade operations, and cleanup

To learn more, register, or sign up to volunteer, visit www.prideparademke.org and follow us at facebook.com/PrideParadeMke.

Attendees are reminded to celebrate safely and responsibly. The parade is a rain-or-shine event. Please remain behind barricades and dispose of trash properly. Carrying alcohol along the route is not permitted, though bars nearby will be open for celebration.

Milwaukee Pride Parade extends a heartfelt thank you to Luke Prokop for joining us in this important moment of visibility, joy, and solidarity.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.