The San Diego Pride Parade will be led by military contingents once again – just not the same one as in the past decade.
San Diego Pride posted on social media that SPARTA Pride, a national nonprofit created by and for transgender people serving in the military, was partnering with them to organize a military presence for the parade.
The post recalled Pride beginning as a protest at the Stonewall Inn. “This year’s march is not just a celebration – it’s a stand for justice, visibility, and the right to serve and heal with dignity,” Pride said.
The news came after the San Diego Pride’s Military Department announced June 20 that it would withdraw from the parade over a myriad of safety concerns and a lack of support and communication from Pride leadership.
Department chair Lauren Henson, a United States Marine, in an interview cited surveillance of the marchers to out transgender service members and potential crowd reaction while Marines are deployed domestically in Los Angeles as safety concerns.
She, along with former chair Clay Kilpatrick, expressed frustration over a lack of year-round advocacy from the Pride organization for LGBTQ+ military members and veterans. Pride was notably absent from a press conference held by local LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations opposing the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk.
“Pride has abdicated its leadership role as an advocacy group … the silence is problematic,” said Kilpatrick, who chaired the military department for a decade and continues to volunteer, in June.
Beyond just advocacy, Kilpatrick decried the lack of administrative support and timely communication for the military department from Pride, something Henson echoed.
In the Military Department social media post, Henson said San Diego Pride’s diminished capacity has prevented the department “from communicating with its members to register and track its participants.”
With Pride circumventing the department, military registration on the Pride website has begun anew.
Active duty, veteran, retired and military families were invited to come as they are to march — whether in uniform, rainbow gear or however they feel comfortable.
In a statement, Pride said, “While some members of the San Diego Pride Military Department will not be participating this year, military contingents will be marching in the parade, including members of SPARTA. All military personnel are welcome to join.”
SPARTA did not respond to a request for comment.
This year’s contingents will look different. The Marine Corps Band will not play due to Trump administration policies that target diversity, equity and inclusion. Department of Defense regulations could impact participants as well.
San Diego Pride was the first Pride celebration in the nation to have a military contingent march in 2011. The participation had become tradition with San Diego being home to one of the largest military communities in the nation.
Even amid President Donald Trump’s discharge of transgender service members and cuts to VA healthcare that impact LGBTQ+ veterans, the tradition now will continue with the military contingent set to lead the parade at 10 a.m. July 19.
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