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Since then Seattle Pride has never quite lost touch with its activist roots, even as it turned into a month of events and parties that ends with a parade through Downtown. The city's first official pride festival took place in 1977 when the mayor endorsed what was then called Gay Pride Week, just one year after Seattle voters narrowly defeated a measure to strip LGBTQ+ people of equal housing/voting rights. The early events were explicit civil rights protests in defense of sexual freedom, and couldn't have come at a more crucial time. at least according to some of the smartest drag queens we know, anyway. The policy has been on and off the books as the Obama administration works to end the law while at the same time fights a court battle because of a lawsuit by the gay rights organization, the Log Cabin Republicans, which sued the Justice Department to stop the policy's enforcement immediately.Seattle's Pride festival started small - the inaugural event in 1974 culminated with just 50 or so people dancing around/in Seattle Center's International Fountain - but has grown dramatically in the 45 years since it began, becoming one of the country's most popular LGBTQ+ events. Marine Corps officials said service members who are not in uniform are within their rights to participate in a gay pride parade. LeClair said she was investigated under "don't ask, don't tell" in 2008 but her commanders decided not to pursue discharging her. "This is really an emotional day for me." "It's been a long time coming," said LeClair, who left the service in November. Miranda LeClair, 30, a former military police officer for the Navy, carried a sign that read: "Proudly served in silence for nine years." She attended with her girlfriend, also a former member of the military police. Rolling slowly behind the 200 service members was a green half-ton military truck with the banner "Taking pride in our LGBT service men and women." Speakers on the truck blasted out "Taps" and military fight songs. "This is not in any way a violation of military policy and it's time for the country to move on - plain and simple," he said. Sala, a former Navy operations specialist, said it's time for the gay and lesbian community to stop hiding in fear. The national Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - representing gay and lesbian active-duty military personnel - informed organizer Sean Sala that they are warning members that it is still a risk to come out as long as "don't ask, don't tell" is on the books. One man in a rainbow colored shirt waved his feather boa and yelled "Hooah!" the military battle cry. Onlookers stepped into the parade route to salute them. One Marine stopped to pose with two towering bikini-clad blondes in stiletto-heeled boots. Marines and sailors ran out carrying their branch's flags over their heads. The event features the Pride Parade on a Saturday, preceded by a block party in the. The crowd roared as the group waving military flags and holding placards identifying their military branch walked past the thousands.Įvery branch of service was represented Saturday, including the Coast Guard. San Diego Pride, also known as San Diego LGBT Pride, is a nonprofit organization which sponsors an annual three-day celebration in San Diego, California every July, focusing on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT) community. "I'm a soldier no matter what, regardless of my sexual orientation." It's time for it (the policy) to be gone," Herrera said. "This is one of the proudest days in my life. She said she was "choked up" several times as she walked down a main thoroughfare in San Diego, a major Navy port. National Guard member Nichole Herrera, 31, said she didn't think twice about marching, even though the policy is back on the books. The march comes a day after a federal appeals court reinstated "don't ask, don't tell" but with a caveat that prevents the government from investigating or penalizing anyone who is openly gay. Many of the active-duty troops said they were moved to come out because it is time to end the military's ban on openly gay troops. SAN DIEGO | About 200 active-duty troops and veterans wearing T-shirts advertising their branch of service marched Saturday in San Diego's gay pride parade with American flags and rainbow banners, marking what is thought to be the first time a military contingent has participated in such an event in the U.S.