The damage control began when parade organizers announced the decision had come from the Office of the Secretary of Defense on their website in the lead-up to the 2012 SD Pride parade.
It took nearly 20 years to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, but it was only a week before Pentagon officials decided they couldn’t fully disavow an erroneously reported decision to allow service members to march in uniform in San Diego’s Pride parade.Īs a result, the historic moment of United States military personnel being permitted to wear their service uniforms in a gay pride event came about thanks more to a mistaken press release than any progressive policy makers.
