Troops march in San Diego gay parade - in uniform

Albany Times-Union ^ | July 21, 2012 | AP

[madprof98]

Navy Senior Chief Dwayne Beebe, center, embraces Jonathan Franqui, right, after proposing to him during the gay pride parade Saturday, July 21, 2012, in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Some of the loudest cheers Saturday at San Diego's gay pride parade were for active-duty troops marching in military dress, the first time that U.S. service members participated in such an event while in full uniform.

Dozens of soldiers, sailors, and Marines marched alongside an old Army truck decorated with a "Freedom to Serve" banner and a rainbow flag. They were joined by dozens more military personnel in civilian clothes, but the uniforms stood out among the flower-bedecked floats and scantily clad revelers.

Spectators waved signs reading, "Thank you for your service." A woman held a placard that said: "My gay son is a Naval officer."

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In a memorandum sent to all its branches this year, the Defense Department said it was making the allowance for the San Diego event even though its policy generally bars troops from marching in uniform in parades.

[RightOnline]

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