I really didn't take the weekend off from cooking, quite the contrary! After a weekend filled with friends, nice wine, and pretty cocktails, we had a carnitas feast on Sunday to wrap it all up. I'm waiting for the pictures; I should have them tonight and you can expect details and the carnitas method for tomorrow's post. But until then I wanted to post a few pictures from this weekend's Pride Parade in Palm Springs - again, NOT Jake's... he was at the Loft getting ready for the party while I parade watched!
PLEASE STAY WITH ME FOR THIS POST...
Regardless of how you feel about a person's sexual orientation, the one thing I think we all know is gay and lesbian citizens have been serving our country for as long as we've needed defending, often with great fear of harassment and discrimination that denied them their civil rights - and yet willing to sacrifice their lives for their country.
This all changed when President Obama, along with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen as a unified group sent the certification to Congress on July 22, 2011 that ending this law would not harm military readiness, followed by President Obama signing the official end to DADT on September 20, 2011. The historic end of this sad discriminatory law was an amazing moment in US history.
Pride Parades across the world have been using this festive medium for years to promote tolerance, draw awareness, and simply celebrate as a community. There were lots of fun extravagant floats carrying people in dazzling costumes like the parade mainstay - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgance...
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have been fighting their fight for social tolerance, and respect since 1979 when their group started in the San Francisco Castro district. Today they are a powerful non-profit charity group raising funds for many LGBT causes like AIDS and also educating the public on the danger of unsafe sex, the harmful effects of drug abuse, and other unsafe practices.
Another powerful image of tolerance and social progress was watching the Palm Springs High School Marching band proudly marching in the parade....
A friend who was viewing the parade with me was moved by this; he was in the marching band during his HS days, and he said they NEVER would have been allowed to march in a Gay Pride Parade.
But by far the most moving moment for me was this...
An old beat-up pick-up truck carrying U.S. Veterans of War. No other float, or convertible carrying local (proudly gay) politicians and community activists, or float promoting multinational businesses like Walgreen's, or Chipotle, or US Bank, nor any other group or cause marching held a candle to the power of this beat-up old truck carrying these aging Veterans. Veterans who could finally PROUDLY ride in this parade and admit they served our country with courage while living in constant fear of ridicule, harassment and discharge!
Stay tuned for Carnitas, and brining a couple wild birds as this week unfolds...
Regardless of how you feel about a person's sexual orientation, the one thing I think we all know is gay and lesbian citizens have been serving our country for as long as we've needed defending, often with great fear of harassment and discrimination that denied them their civil rights - and yet willing to sacrifice their lives for their country.
This all changed when President Obama, along with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen as a unified group sent the certification to Congress on July 22, 2011 that ending this law would not harm military readiness, followed by President Obama signing the official end to DADT on September 20, 2011. The historic end of this sad discriminatory law was an amazing moment in US history.
This was made poignantly clear while viewing the Palm Springs Pride Parade on Sunday.
Pride Parades across the world have been using this festive medium for years to promote tolerance, draw awareness, and simply celebrate as a community. There were lots of fun extravagant floats carrying people in dazzling costumes like the parade mainstay - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgance...
 |
| Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence |
Another powerful image of tolerance and social progress was watching the Palm Springs High School Marching band proudly marching in the parade....
 |
| PSHS Marching Band |
But by far the most moving moment for me was this...
An old beat-up pick-up truck carrying U.S. Veterans of War. No other float, or convertible carrying local (proudly gay) politicians and community activists, or float promoting multinational businesses like Walgreen's, or Chipotle, or US Bank, nor any other group or cause marching held a candle to the power of this beat-up old truck carrying these aging Veterans. Veterans who could finally PROUDLY ride in this parade and admit they served our country with courage while living in constant fear of ridicule, harassment and discharge!
Stay tuned for Carnitas, and brining a couple wild birds as this week unfolds...
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