Soon we’re going to need a scorecard to keep up. First came word that Bradley Manning was selected as San Francisco Pride’s grand marshal, despite the fact that he won’t be able to attend due to being behind bars while awaiting trial for leaking classified government documents. Then we were told that Manning had never been selected for the gig, that it was merely an error made by an overzealous Pride staffer. Now we’ve been informed of a protest by activists, including Michael Petrelis and Lisa Geduldig, who think that story is just P.R. spin and that pride officials really rescinded the invitation after some objected to whether the out U.S. Army hero/whistleblower/criminal (depending on your opinion) reflected proper values they want in a pride grand marshal.
Petrelis released a statement that read: “Our message to SF Pride is that they should make Manning a Grand Marshal of this year’s Pride March and Celebration because of his brave act of whistleblowing against the military industrial complex. We are fed up with marriage and military concerns sucking the oxygen out of what used to be a queer movement and Pride March and Celebration about social justice for queers.”
Geduldig added, “He’s an antiwar hero, a whistleblower who is gay. He was lip-synching to Lady Gaga while downloading classified documents. It doesn’t get more gay than that.”
The protest is scheduled for April 29 at 5 p.m. in front of San Francisco Pride’s office. Participants are asked to carry “I Am Bradley Manning” signs and to wear Manning masks, which can be downloaded here.
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Does Manning reflect what you want in a pride grand marshal? Leave a comment to tell us.
2eo
Well done, I’m glad there are enough people with the conscience and the moral guidance to protest in favour of such a great man. You have my absolute support. Great men are always despised by small people.
Will L
Oh, fine. It took something like this to shake a couple of nut bars out of our closet. Like we don’t have enough battles to fight already.
oilburner
Bradley Manning is hellA hot it’s 2 bad he won’t be there 2 bless us HO’S with his hottnesss
greyhound1954
Manning’s going to be imprisoned for decades for releasing documents that prove the criminality of American foreign policy. Meanwhile, war criminal Bush, who sent American troops to die in an unnecessary war in Iraq, lives high on the hog, with a federal pension.
sanfranca1
Just can’t understand why you would want a TRAITOR as the Grand Marshall…a slap in
the face to all the noble men and women who have served in our armed forces and
defended our country.
jennvicious
Hey, didn’t Manning come out as a trans woman? How come no one ever refers to her that way?
Fawkes
@sanfranca1: What a load of nonsense. I’m guessing you never served in the military and have no idea of the oath military personnel take. I took an oath not to defend he government, but to defend the Constitution. But evil people like you will eventually have their way, as the police stae continues to grow and real whistle-blowing heroes like Bradley Manning are demonized and vilified by cowardly little quislings like you.
Caleb in SC
@Fawkes: @sanfranca1: No, sanfranca1 is spot on — you just refuse to acknowledge it.
EManhattan
@sanfranca1 It’s easy to throw words like “traitor” around, much easier than actually reading a large selection of the documents he exposed.
To those of us who have actually read some of those documents, it’s clear that he was revealing some very bad behavior that representatives of our government tried to keep secret, so that they would not be held accountable for their decisions and actions. Since when is hiding your transgressions an American value?
Manning would be a great parade Grand Marshal. His detractors should study the documents he exposed before accusing him of damaging our nation – exposing corruption and deceit is good for America, not bad.
Fawkes
@Caleb in SC: Based on what? Yet another post in which you offer nothing but nonsensical rhetoric, like we’re all supposed to drop to our knees just because the mighty troll known as Caleb in SC said it.
sanfranca1
@Fawkes: 6 years in the Navy, thank you very much!
Fawkes
@sanfranca1: Oh, fantastic. Then you’re the traitor, not Manning. I know why I served – to keep those who want to destroy the Republic, like you, at bay. I find it amazing that people like you clearly have no understanding whatsoever of what a conviction for Manning would mean for whistle-blowers. You have no idea what kind of nightmarish precedent that would set. But that’s ok, you can feel comfortable in your stupid, simple world where the traitors are those who expose the government’s evil and the heroes are the evil men themselves. What a shame it is that someone who despises the Constitution and freedom from tyranny as much as you do can call themselves a veteran.
Caleb in SC
@sanfranca1: Do not try reason or logic with these people. It does not matter. If you dare to disagree with the pro-gay sentiment, you are shat upon and demeaned. I’ll bet the people who attack you and I are queers who never served their country nor have they ever done anything other than convert oxygen into carbon dioxide. I was in the Navy also. Thank you for your service.
Fawkes
@Caleb in SC: Ah so your true colors come out. This isn’t about what Manning did, it’s about your virulent homophobia. You big government types are all the same. There are plenty of us proud Americans who served in the military, myself included. And we outnumber you! We surround you! Never forget it.
Caleb in SC
@Fawkes: Wow, the real troll comes out. Get back on your meds, and leave the rest of us alone.
Caleb in SC
@Fawkes: Just because you post something, does not mean it is true. Just saying . . .
Fawkes
@Caleb in SC: You’ve got some nerve posting that, little miss. Wake up on the wrong side of the bathhouse, did we? And leave “us” alone? I suppose you don’t recognize the Napoleon Complex that’s infested your little brain. As I said before, and as you can see on all these forums, you trolls are outnumbered. You may be loud, just as similar hate groups are loud, but in reality you’re nothing but paper tigers blowing in the wind.
Caleb in SC
@Fawkes: Read your virulent posts and read mine. The troll is readily apparent. Namaste!
jamesbarnette
To this day I have yet to hear of any information which was released that was a severe risk to our security. To this day I’ve only heard he exposed lies our government was telling us.
Fawkes
@Caleb in SC: Oh yes sweeties, I’m so, so sorry. I forget how sensitive the fascists are.
zzQQzz
He is a traitor and should not be the grand marshall of any parade. He may be gay (which I don’t know) but that doesn’t make him a patriot. I am in the military and have been for 25 years. I plan on another 14 or so. He endangered America. He did not strengthen it. There are other ways to get injustice told. He just wasn’t smart enough to do it that way.
Caleb in SC
@zzQQzz: Be careful. If you mention that you are gay and served in the military, Fawkes might personally attack you!!!
Fawkes
@Caleb in SC: Nope, only if you’re a fake patriot, which you trolls are.
Jeffery48
@sanfranca1: 20 years in the Army and I support my gay brother Bradley 100%. I’m very proud of him and would love to see him as Grand Marshall.
JT Hawkins
@Caleb in SC: Caleb, I have always found your comments to be well reasoned and logical. While I may not agree with all of them, I respect your opinions. Stop feeding the Fawkes troll — he is toxic and not worth your time and energy.
hyhybt
Maybe I’m just old-fashioned, but I think grand marshals should be selected from those willing and able to attend.
Fawkes
@JT Hawkins: LMAO, we all know you’re Caleb’s little alter-ego. The blatant ass-kissing gives it away. So sad you have to manufacture compliments from yourself. Are all your other big-government buddies still busy protesting the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?
JT Hawkins
@Fawkes: Wow, you really are a pathetic excuse for a human being if you cannot even accept the fact that other people don’t crap all over each other to get cheap kicks. DON’T FEED THE TROLL!!!
2eo
@Fawkes: JT Hawking, Caleb and niles are the same poster. Don’t worry, actual members with intelligence on this site know you’re spot on.
Fawkes
@2eo: Oh don’t worry, I know. They’ve got to puff out their chests like blowfish to try and scare thinking people off. But like blowfish, they’re all full of hot air. Even if they are different people (which they’re not), don’t you notice how they all sound EXACTLY the same? So they’re either frauds or mindless group-thinkers, although it’s quite possible that they’re both.
DarkZephyr
I still don’t have enough information about what happened with Manning to have an opinion. I feel sorry for him, but I hate how divisive this whole thing is. But that being said, what I really zeroed in on in this article was this part:
“We are fed up with marriage and military concerns sucking the oxygen out of what used to be a queer movement and Pride March and Celebration about social justice for queers.”
Fed up with marriage concerns? Sorry, but for me this is the one of the BIGGEST issues of social justice FOR “Queers” right now. And if what Queerty said before, military concerns like DADT were important to Manning. How can they say that they support Manning if they do not support something that he held close to his heart? Something that was a motivating factor for what it is that they call heroic?
I know one thing. Michael Petrelis and Lisa Geduldig do NOT speak for Manning OR many of the rest of us concerning marriage and military concerns. How dare they poo poo those two critical issues regarding full equality for LGBT people?
the other Greg
@jamesbarnette: Right – it’s important to realize that the vague charge he somehow put troops at risk is not true.
If anything it’s the opposite. He undoubtedly saved the lives of at least several dozen U.S. service members, maybe a couple of hundred, by foiling the Obama administration’s schemes to extend the occupation of Iraq indefinitely.
the other Greg
@Caleb in SC: In your previous posts in the past few days, you were always careful to say (or pretend) you’re gay. Suddenly in #13 you sound straight and refer to “pro-gay sentiment”! Maybe you flip back & forth between being straight & gay?
2eo
@the other Greg: Shame he can’t flip the switch that would turn his brain on.
jevonbellam
what Edith replied I am blown away that any one able to profit $9413 in a few weeks on the internet. have you read this site FAB33.COM_only
Polaro
Protesting Manning not getting to be the Grand Marshal is about as stupid an idea as a nutz gay man can come up with. Its like building a memorial to bedazzled leg warmers. Manning has nothing to do with the LGBT community. His actions had nothing to do with the LGBT community. And his/her actions do not help the LGBT cause. Those of you who think so are deluded, irrational and really irritating.
2eo
@Polaro: Do you not think an army serviceman, who is hated by most of the nation but still has the love for his country, and the absolute conscience to show that a lot of military people hate what the USA is supposed to stand for isn’t worth celebrating?
I feel every single person with the conscience to expose the lies and religious war hatred carried out by your nation and their allies [like us in the UK] is a cause worth championing in every theatre.
Merv
I don’t support Manning as Grand Marshal, but you people calling him a traitor need to look up the definition of treason in the Constitution:
“Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.”
What he did bears no resemblance to treason.
alterego1980
@Merv: I respectfully disagree. He released tons of private and secret information. That is classified as such because it may (and in some cases did) contain information vital to an operation against our enemies such as Al-Qaeda. The release of diplomatic cables blew the cover of some officials working against those who would do us harm. That directly aided our enemies. And for that, he is a traitor.
He is a disgrace to his country. I would not have him represent me in any parade. Maybe he should be grand marshal of the Al-Qaeda Pride Parade. Oh wait…
Polaro
@2eo: Don’t confuse the Manning issue with gay rights. Don’t even begin to go there. The logic for this is torturous. His actions have nothing to do with LGBT issues. You want to support Manning and what he represents? Might actually be a good idea to investigate, just not at a gay pride parade.
There were other avenues for Manning to take. He chose not to, after swearing an oath that most of us take seriously. I choose not to be associated with him just because he fits somewhere on the LGBTQ scale. Get it?
If this many gay people think you are a little nuts, you probably need to reevaluate your position instead of screaming the same irrelevant tripe louder.
Polaro
@hyhybt: LOL, well one would think attendance would be considered.
viveutvivas
It would be better to schedule any protest during the parade aspart of the parade. The visibility would be better and it would majorly piss off the Pride committee, the homonationalists, and the big capital sponsors.
Hansolo
Manning is a traitor and is self serving. Just like in our own lives there are some things are government does that should be kept secret. When he signed up for the military he swore an oath and he totally broke that oath plain and simple. If he was such a leftist why the hell join the military in the first place? There are better ways to fight and it’s obvious that nothing that has come out has any affect on what the US government is doing other than a change of Administration. What a waste of time and for what?
2eo
@Hansolo: Why did you post as zzQQzz earlier?
Fawkes
@Hansolo: Clearly you haven’t served in the military, otherwise you would know what Manning’s, and all military personnel for that matter, oath was. It is to defend the Constitution, not keep nasty government secrets. Educate yourself before you troll, otherwise all you’re doing is making the world a dumber place.
jeff4justice
SF Pride’s Bradley Manning Debacle Shows LGBT mega groups 2party system & 1% corporation puppets: http://youtu.be/_31oBG06Yuo
San Francisco Pride’s public relations disaster regarding the false announcement that Iraq War whistleblower Bradley Manning was their 2013 Pride Grand Marshal is telling of how LGBT mega groups are whores to the 2-party system charade and also the 1% mega corporations.
tchuy03
Your great man is a traitor and wimp. Private Manning broke the law and should not vilified just for the mere fact that he is gay. If this Moron was straight SF Pride or yourself would not even discuss this. Shame on you and your twisted mind.
Ricky
The Pentagon has already gone on record saying that the release of those documents did not harm national security. He had the balls to stand up to the military industrial complex and speak the truth. So all these government apologists also going to claim that Daniel Ellsberg should have been tortured and convicted of treason when he released the Pentagon Papers? SF Pride wouldn’t want to lose their corporate sponsors like Bank of America now would they?
Ricky
@tchuy03:
So the fuck what if he broke a law? Ghandi broke laws. Rosa Parks broke laws. Nelson Mandella broke laws. Daniel Ellsberg broke laws.
Anyone who looks to achieve peace and speak the truth will be a fucking law breaker at some point.
Fawkes
@Ricky: Beautifully said.
jar
@DarkZephyr: Funny. I thought how on the mark that comment is. The focus on gays in the military and gay marriage over the past twenty years was a shift to a bourgeois focus. Gay marriage is important, but workplace protections, for example, is a much more important issue. The plight of poor lesbian and gay folks (and our sisters have it the worst) and our non-white brothers and sisters is more devastating than fighting for military acceptance. The movement has been taken over by the “we’re just like everyone else” bourgeois self-hating crowd. I agree with Petrelis that the social justice aspect of our movement has been relegated to the sidelines in the fight for respectability.
That is not to say I am not happy about our progress in these other areas, but they should not be promoted to the exclusion of other life and death issues.
hyhybt
@jar: Why “self-hating?” Seems to me just the opposite.
Caleb in SC
If personal attacks were outlawed, the comment section on this site would be shut down. Just to set the record straight: I am gay, served in the US Navy as an officer during a time when gay people were thrown out for being gay, and I have an AB, MPA, and JD. Other people should accomplish so much before they judge me.
Fawkes
@Caleb in SC: Ha! You personally slur Bradley Manning and then have the nerve to whimper about “personal attacks.” What a joke you are.
tchuy03
The only reason why the Queer world is backing him is cause of his sexuality. Sad that they do not look at his crimes and what he is being charged with. He is a traitor to the US Army and to the nation.