10/13/2026
We are excited to welcome Benjamin Cummings as our 2026 Pride Visalia Grand Marshal.
Benjamin Cummings is a lifelong Central Valley resident, educator, and advocate who has dedicated his work to helping young people feel seen, valued, and proud of who they are.
Throughout his career in education, Ben has worked to ensure LGBTQ+ students have a voice in the decisions that impact their lives. While serving in Visalia Unified, he worked with the District Equity Committee to advocate for student safety, belonging, and acceptance. In 2020, following hurtful comments about the LGBTQ+ community from district leadership, Ben took those concerns directly before the Visalian Unified School Board demanding accountability, and asking the district to recognize Pride month in support of the LGBTQ+ students, staff, families, and community members the district serves. Most importantly, Ben demanded students had a seat at the table, creating opportunities for them to speak directly with district leaders about making schools safer and more welcoming for everyone. Throughout this work, Ben was grateful for the endless support and guidance from Brian Poth, and The Source.
At the heart of Ben’s work is a simple belief: every young person deserves to feel safe, welcomed, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are, something he learned from his junior English teacher, Beth Lederach. He credits his partner, John, his family and friends, and the incredible q***r community of the Central Valley with providing that same sense of belonging in his life.
For Ben, pride is about more than being visible, it is about creating a community where others feel safe enough to be visible, too.
Thank you, Benjamin, for your incredible contributions to the community. We are excited to present him with the honor of Grand Marshal on October 17th at Valley Strong Ballpark!
