Nearly 200 active duty and retired military men and women turned out for Saturday’s 37th Pride celebration in Hillcrest, according to parade officials.
Though they weren’t in uniform, the military member's wore t-shirts their branch of service, showing progress after the recent weakening of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
After months of legal wrangling, the Pentagon announced Friday the "don't ask, don't tell" policy would temporarily remain in place, with a major exception. While the military can reject openly gay recruits, they cannot investigate, penalize or discharge service members who are openly gay.
More than 150,000 people attended the parade and associated Pride Festival at Marston Point in Balboa Park, which featured music and entertainment by stand-up comic Margaret Cho.
Earlier this week, the San Diego City Council declared July "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month."
