Below is an open letter from Dwayne Crenshaw, the San Diego LGBT Pride Executive Director, who reminds us how equally important gay and lesbian service members are after many marched in uniform during  San Diego’s annual march over the weekend.

The Defense Department got involved in deciding those who served our country and planned to celebrate in Saturday’s events should be allowed do so in uniform following the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.  They did just that.  San Diego’s  parade on Saturday will go down in history as the first to allow active service members to openly participate in a gay pride event while wearing their uniform.

Crenshaw’s letter in its entirety is printed below.

To whom it may concern;

The promise of America grounded in the Constitution, contained in our Pledge of Allegiance, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty and enunciated by generations of our nation’s leaders is that America stands for liberty, for justice, for equality for all.  This has been America’s Pride.

To honor all service members without regard to their sexual orientation is commendable, to pursue the United States’ value of equality is honorable, and to support those actions is genuinely American.

The mission statement of San Diego LGBT pride is fostering pride in and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, locally, nationally, and globally.  It is with great pride and distinction we pursue that mission, and we were honored to do so last Saturday at San Diego’s Pride themed America’s pride.

We fully support, agree with, and respect the decision by Defense Secretary Leo Panetta, and hope that this is just another step on the road to equality.

In Pride,
Dwayne Crenshaw
Executive Director
San Diego LGBT Pride