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. / 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.
Popular on CBSNews.com
- TWA Flight 800 gets another look 17 years later
- America's endangered historic places 11 Photos
- Reporter Michael Hastings dies at 33
- FBI: No sign of Jimmy Hoffa's body in Detroit suburb
- Google asks FISA court to lift gag order on NSA requests
- Taliban: We killed 4 U.S. troops at Afghan air base
- Scientists say shipwreck timber in Lake Michigan centuries old
- Girl who lost feet in lawnmower gets prosthetics
Whatever? Who cares?
*Californication*, or what. Geez, what a noise.
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.