Despite DADT, Troops March In San Diego Gay Pride Parade

[ruggerson]

"A group of roughly 250 active-duty troops, veterans and their supporters marched in Saturday's San Diego Gay Pride Parade.

Wearing t-shirts advertising their branch of military service, the men and women each carried a rainbow flag as they marched. All branches of the military were represented in what is believed to be first time active-duty troops have participated in such an event.

Under the military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy, gay and bisexual service members are banned from publicly declaring their sexual orientation. Such a declaration could result in a discharge from the military.

<snip>

Twenty-four-year-old Marine Corporal Will Rodriguez-Kennedy said he believes troops will be able to march in uniform in next year's parade.

“One of my friends here has been back from Afghanistan for three days, and when he heard about the parade he said he served in uniform and he should be able to march in uniform,” Rodriguez-Kennedy, who is on active duty, told Reuters.

The march came on the heels of Friday's news that “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” is back on, the latest development in an ongoing legal challenge to the law. But the federal appeals court that granted the Obama administration's emergency request added that the government is not allowed to discharge any service member who is openly gay.

“This is one of the proudest days in my life,” National Guard member Nichole Herrera, 31, told the AP. “It's time for it (the policy) to be gone. I'm a soldier no matter what, regardless of my sexual orientation.”


FULL STORY>

[muffin1]

1. K&R

[xchrom]

2. Awesome. Nt

[msongs]

3. let's hope the CIC doesn't have them court marshalled for this nt

[Tx4obama]

5. .... some use all occasions to never miss an opportunity to bash Obama. n/t

[jenmito]

4. K&R. That's SO cool! n/t

[Cherchez la Femme]

6. This got a whole 6 rec's?

Fierce advocacy is ALL UP IN THIS B****!

[vaberella]

7. I couldn't rec this. Great post Ruggerson. Thank you. n/t

[Forkboy]

8. K...too late for an R.