Sat. June 8, 2013
Los Angeles, CA -
For the first time, a delegation from the California National Guard will take part in the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade on Sunday, June 9.
Major General David S. Baldwin and Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, a Democrat, will lead the contingent, Perez's office announced in a press release.
The California National Guard will also have its first-ever recruiting booth at the Pride Festival following the parade.
"The California National Guard is not only accepting of members from the gay community, they are enthusiastically recruiting from the gay community," Perez said."When you have the Guard's top officer taking part in the recruitment effort at L.A. Pride, that says a lot about the Guard and their commitment to including and reflecting all the people they serve."
Baldwin, the Guard's adjutant general, added: "We are a performance-based force, and one's sexual orientation shouldn't affect their ability to serve and excel. Duty to one's state and nation – not sexual orientation – is the defining trait of our soldiers and airmen."
The California National Guard will also have a recruiting presence at Pride events throughout the state, including Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose.
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