Bradley Manning supporters made up "the largest non-corporate contingent" at #SFPride this weekend
Bradley Manning Gay Pride: Supporters Show Love For WikiLeaks Whistleblower
Urvi Nagrani
4 hours ago
Bradley Manning Gay Pride: Supporters Show Love For WikiLeaks Whistleblower
As much as San Francisco Pride's Board would've probably liked to have Bradley Manning and his supporters absent from any Pride 2013 recap, it is noteworthy to say, after two months of controversy, they were the largest non-corporate contingent — with over 2000 folks — and they even danced to Michael Jackson in a flash mob that delighted the crowds.
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The Bradley Manning contingent was prominently attended by 82 year-old Daniel Ellsberg, who in 1971 leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times. Ellsberg celebrated with his wife riding in a truck labeled "Bradley Manning Grand Marshal." Within the Manning contingent there was also a flash mob dance, ACT up Representatives, and many Veterans against the war.
Also in attendance was Pride's legal counsel, Brooke Oliver, who resigned after 15 years because of the Pride Board's handling of the Manning debacle. At the SF Pride Media Party on Thursday, unnamed guests fell on both sides with past board members saying, "this issue just needs to die" and others who blamed Lisa Williams for taking a stance that wasn't reflective of all of SF Pride's members.
In a quiet but significant shift from previous years, for the first time, SF Pride allowed a military recruitment booth as an exhibitor at the Parade. When asked to confirm that prior to the event, Lisa Williams replied with a noncommittal, "yes I think that's true." Approximately 100 protesters proceeded from marching in the parade to the booth, effectively shutting it down. While the military has become much more gay and lesbian friendly with the repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, as well as with the repeal of section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, they are not yet Trans-Inclusive and the epidemic of sexual assaults make Pride's support of their recruiting presence questionable.
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http://www.policymic.com/articles/52201/bradley-manning-gay-pride-supporters-show-love-for-wikileaks-whistleblower
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