A group of military service members and veterans marched in last weekend’s San Diego pride parade, marking the first time (ever!) that a pride march included a contingent of active duty personnel. Not all who marched were gay, but for those who were, this was an unprecedented moment to be fully open about their sexuality in the face of a less-than-approving military. It’s hard not to see this as a direct extension of the developments with DADT, though organizers were quick to say their motivations weren’t political. With any luck, military contingents will become as commonplace as hot pants and jello shots as pride season ramps up again next year. Congrats San Diego–and here we thought you were just the conservative (albeit pretty) step-sister of LA.
Images via SD LGBT Weekly
Abirdwillingtobeitself
What bland colors. Not a very expressive pride parade.
Henry
“Service members”… They’re not the pride parade from the local blood drive. They’re military grunts.
Cam
Good for them! Congratulations!!
Lisa
@Henry: Wuzzup with the gay hate for the military? As a very, very straight women, I want to give our male servicemen a kiss on the cheek for doing their duty. Why can’t you be one of the good ones like the fine gentleman at San Diego?
KalperniaRena
Wow, what a great thing to do! Good for them! =D
Brutus
Hooyah!
Lav
Congratulations, and I’m so proud of them!!
[email protected]
Hooray for them, but “marking the first time (ever!) that a pride march included a contingent of active duty personnel”????
Uh, that would be a “No”….and not by THIRTY-SIX YEARS, for that was how long ago active duty Army PV2 Debbie Watson and her partner Army PFC Barbara Randolph, Air Force SSGT Skip Keith, and Air Force TSGT Leonard Matlovich, along with a group of gay veterans, participated in the 1975 New York Pride Parade…and, apparently unlike Saturday’s particpants, spoke to the crowd at the rally afterward, identifying themselves by name.
From Randy Shilt’s landmark book, “Conduct Unbecoming”—”Leonard Matlovich surveyed the throng with wonder. How had he allowed so much of his life to be wasted in loneliness. A cheer rose from the crowd when Matlovich delivered the line he had used in every newspaper and television interview since his case went public. With him were the other heroes of the moment: Staff Sgt. Skip Keith, Barbara Randolph and Debbie Watson. When the four of them stood side by side at the microphone, waving to the crowd that billowed through Central Park, a huge ovation rose up and it felt as if their spirits had also lifted into the air and soared over the city’s skylines. It was a moment Leonard would cherish for the rest of his life.”
MORE—including historical photos—at http://www.lgbtpov.com/2011/07/michael-bedwells-history-lesson-gay-servicemembers-have-marched-in-other-parades/