AP/ July 21, 2012, 5:07 PM

Troops march in San Diego gay parade

A man blows a kiss to Navy sailors marching in uniform during the gay pride parade Saturday, July 21, 2012, in San Diego.

A man blows a kiss to Navy sailors marching in uniform during the gay pride parade Saturday, July 21, 2012, in San Diego. / AP Photo/Gregory Bull

(AP) SAN DIEGO - Some of the loudest cheers at San Diego's gay pride parade were for active-duty troops marching in military dress.

Saturday's celebration marks the first time U.S. service members are participating in a gay pride event while decked out in full uniform. Dozens of soldiers, sailors, and Marines marched alongside an old Army truck festooned with a "Freedom to Serve" banner and a rainbow flag. They were joined by dozens more military personnel marching in civilian clothes.

Spectators waved signs reading, "Thank you for your service."

Commander Kent Blade, who will retire this fall after 26 years in the Navy, said being able to march in uniform was a perfect culmination of his career.

The Defense Department said it was making the allowance for the San Diego parade because organizers had encouraged military personnel to march in their uniform and the event was getting national attention.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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formerlyluvnut says:
SAD day in USA military history. Sad.
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55minus5 says:
eeeeh... What the hell?
Whatever? Who cares?
*Californication*, or what. Geez, what a noise.
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alpinequeen says:
I gotta go dig out my Village People CDs.
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freeamerica31 says:
Department of Defense is so out of line on this one and Congress needs to call the Joint Chiefs of Staff and all the Secretaries on the carpet for this display.

You are not authorized to wear your uniform because it shows a bias toward a specific political affiliation. If this is ok then the serviceman that showed up at a Political Ralley on stage with his uniform should be off the hook and all members of the service should be able to wear they uniform with any group they desire as not to show undue unbias toward them.
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AttyFAM replies:
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Are you saying that the GOP is anti-gay? Anti- Civil Rights? Anti- Equal Protection? That the Log Cabin Republicans ought to disband and join the Democrats because there is exactly zero chance that the Republicans will ever take them seriously? Is that what you are saying?
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hypnotoad72 says:
It's a shame that Katy Perry, or a very good impersonator of Katy Perry, chose to be in a photo-op... Not all GLBT look and act like that...
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says:
People that serve in the armed forces to protect our country are special. It's nice to see them in the parade.
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55minus5 replies:
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Nice uniforms, aren't they?