Props to California's LA/Valley Pride: Welcome, Marines!

Operation Yellow Elephant salutes LA/Valley Pride in California.

Now that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is history, organizers invited all military branches to recruit at San Gabriel Valley Pride in Pasadena. Unfortunately, while the Marines were interested, they had no money. From the LA Times:

Marine recruiters reach out at gay pride event in Pasadena

[ . . . ]

Alan Chan, San Gabriel Valley Pride's secretary, invited military personnel in the Pasadena recruitment office across from the college to set up booths at the event. The Navy, he said, did not have adequate staffing. The Army had previously committed to another event. The Air Force did not respond. And the Marines, who alone expressed interest, nearly had to plead poverty because the branch had exhausted its funds for the fiscal year and did not have $150 for the exhibitor fee. LA/Valley Pride covered the fee, said Executive Director Paul Waters. [ . . . ]

OYE Comment:

If the Marines' participation at this event results in the eventual enlistment of one qualified recruit, we'll consider it a success.

We salute not only the Marine Corps Pasadena recruiting office but also the GLBTQ community in the area, who realize that, if more Americans personally knew someone wearing the uniform, especially enlisted servicemembers and junior officers - those most at risk in combat, our country would be a better place.

How about you, Ben Quayle? Would you encourage the GLBTQ community in your district to invite military recruiters to their event?

Hat tip to AmericaBlog Gay.