A first-of-its-kind lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) event at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado on Tuesday drew a small group of participants.
The military installation hosts approximately 3,900 personnel, according to a report by local news affiliate CBS 8. The report states that the base celebrates diversity several times a year, and that the diversity of all personnel was being celebrated; however, this event centered around homosexual and transgender speakers.
A flyer for the event read, “NAVAIR North Island Celebrates Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month.” Other military installations have held similar events, but this event was billed as the first ever on the west coast.
Fred Karger, a homosexual activist and the first openly homosexual presidential candidate, said, “To be out and activist in my later years has been a tremendous honor.”
On June 29 Karger called for sending in federal troops in response to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s suggestion that state workers may deny marriage licenses to homosexual couples.
Other speakers addressing LGBT issues included combat veteran Jacquelyn Atkinson and transgender retired Army Colonel Sheri Swokowski, CBS 8 reported. Organizer and Navy veteran Lisa Kove told reporters she had been planning the event since 2002.
The event comes just days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states.
That night the White House was lit up in colors in celebration of the Court’s decision.
Photo: File
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