Elvis Duran to Grand Marshal Miami Beach Pride; Guest of Honor Iggy Azalea Sparks Outcry

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Miami Beach Gay Pride returns for the seventh year this weekend. Last year more than 130,000 attended the growing festival.

This year's event has caused some local activists to cry foul over singer Iggy Azalea being invited to the event as a guest of honor of Elvis Duran, this year's grand marshal. Azalea has made racist and homophobic comments in the past.

"Her comments have not always aligned with the vision and values of our community," said Garcia-Vera, a Miami community activist, who has started a hashtag, #IggyOutOfPride. "The damage is done."

In 2010, Azalea took shots at lesbian athletes, tweeting, "Wondered why my butt felt like it was about to grow legs, flip me off & walk away. then I remembered i played soccer yesterday w 5 dyke bitches," she wrote.

The same year, Azalea went after gay men, tweeting "When guys whisper in each others ears I always think its kinda homo."

Last year, Azalea was forced to cancel performances at Pittsburgh Gay Pride due to pressure from LGBT activists who pointed to the blonde bombshell's tweets in 2010 and 2011. In those tweets Azalea insulted lesbians, gay men, black men and Mexicans.

"Just saw five black men get arrested out the front of popeyes. #damn #stereotypes," Azalea tweeted in 2011.

Richard Murray, whose public relations firm Duree and Company, is a pride sponsor, released the following statement: "The fact that she's lending her star-power to the fundraiser Elvis is hosting Saturday night which benefits LGBTQ charities including Pride, speaks much more loudly to me as a member of the community than a few poor choices of words six years ago."

Miami Beach Gay Pride Executive Director Dave Cook, in his first year, issued the standard welcome in a letter printed in the event's official program.

"The mission of Miami Beach Gay Pride is to bring together members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, their friends, allies, and supporters, in celebration of the unique spirit and culture of the LGBTQ community," Cook wrote.

Ceremonies began on Monday with the raising of a rainbow flag at Miami Beach City Hall. Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine welcomed the event, noting how far Pride has come in just under a decade's time.

"Since its inception in 2009, Miami Beach Gay Pride has grown from a neighborhood event to an event on the global stage with an estimated attendance of 130,000." Levine wrote in a letter.

Elvis Duran is the host of the most listened to Top 40 morning show in the U.S. Duran describes his on-air role as a "ma�tre d' of the mornings." He is the one who created a stir by inviting Azalea to appear on his float for Sunday's parade.

Murray and his husband Greg Griffin are one of 32 legacy couples being honored at pride this year. Couples begin gathering at Larios on the Beach (820 Ocean Drive) at 10:30 a.m. for a meet and greet prior to the parade's start. The parade is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m., starting on 5th Street and Ocean Drive and traveling north to 15th Street. Festival hours are 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday at Lummus Park. Festival admission is free.