6/28/2009 – USNA Out members join Knights Out in SF Pride Parade

On Sunday June 28th 2009, the 40th anniversary of the historic Stonewall Riots, history was made once again as, for the first time, a service academy GLBT alumni group marched proudly and openly as an official contingent in a gay pride parade. Three members of USNA Out (Jim Maguire ’88, Eric Shangle ’97 and Greer Puckett ’75) were among the 35 total members, family and allies of Knights Out, West Point’s GLBT alumni organization, who marched up Market Street during Sunday morning’s San Francisco Gay Pride Parade.

On Sunday June 28th 2009, the 40th anniversary of the historic Stonewall Riots, history was made once again as, for the first time, a service academy GLBT alumni group marched proudly and openly as an official contingent in a gay pride parade. Three members of USNA Out (Jim Maguire ’88, Eric Shangle ’97 and Greer Puckett ’75) were among the 35 total members, family and allies of Knights Out, West Point’s GLBT alumni organization, who marched up Market Street during Sunday morning’s San Francisco Gay Pride Parade.

The Knights Out (KO) Board had been organizing the contingent for weeks, lead by their fearless Sprit Captain Margaret Wilson ’89, admirably supported by City expert Laura Slattery ’88. Eric Shangle’s hotel, The Clift, was KO headquarters (the hospitality suite of which Eric decorated with Navy N’s, Navy blankets, and Navy uniforms in the closet in case they were needed by the “Kaydets”).

The day dawned clear and quite warm Sunday morning as hundreds of thousands of people started gathering along the length of Market Street, from the Ferry Building to the Civic Center. Temperatures hit nearly 90 degrees (sizzling for San Francisco) as Jim and Eric proudly manned either side of the Knights Out banner, leading their brothers and sisters in arms proudly up Market Street to the cheers and love of the crowd. It was an amazing day which none of us will ever forget. Search “knights out”on youtube to see a brief clip. Beat DADT! Jim