The LGBT community in San Diego will celebrate many things this weekend at the 41st annual Pride Parade and Festival. This year's theme is “Liberty and Justice for All.”
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriages last month and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced this week the Pentagon plans to move forward with lifting the ban on transgender people openly serving in the U.S. military.
“I think there is a lot of positive energy,” Stephen Whitburn, executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride, told KPBS Midday Edition on Wednesday. “There is a lot to celebrate but it’s also an opportunity to take stock of the many things we have to accomplish.”
The title of grand marshal this year will be given to one entire community — the transgender community — rather than an individual. Garth Langley, public affairs manager for San Diego LGBT Pride, said transgender service members will also join the military contingent in Saturday's parade.
In 2012, San Diego's Pride became the first in the nation where gay servicemembers could openly march in the parade in uniform after the Department of Defense approved a waiver.
Despite the accomplishments, Whitburn said the country still has a lot of progress to make.
“Laws don’t stop prejudice,” he said.
In addition to Saturday's Pride Parade, that winds through Hillcrest and North Park before ending at Balboa Park, there's also a music festival, block party and 5K race.
