As the backlash continues from Friday’s statement from SF Pride’s board president, Lisa Williams, saying that Bradley Manning will not be an SF Pride grand marshal and that it was a mistake LGBT activists are calling for a protest against the SF Pride committee today at 5 p.m. in the city’s Market Street.
Advocate.com reported activists Michael Petrelis, Tommi Avicolli Mecca, and Lisa Geduldig are behind the call to action.
“Our message to SF Pride is that they should make Manning a grand marshal of this year’s Pride march and celebration because of his brave act of whistleblowing against the military industrial complex,” said Petrelis. “We are fed up with marriage and military concerns sucking the oxygen out of what used to be a queer movement and Pride march and celebration about social justice for queers.”
The organizers are asking participants to carry “I Am Bradley Manning” signs and to wear Manning masks.
Manning was arrested in May 2010 in Iraq on suspicion of having passed classified material to the Web site WikiLeaks. He was charged with a number of offenses, including communicating national defense information to an unauthorized source and aiding the enemy. He was arraigned in February 2012 at Fort Meade, Md. The trial is expected to begin in June.
#BradleyManning: #LGBT activists call for protest against @SFPride committee http://t.co/bndwLxFQGY #Gay @talkhillcrest
RT @LGBTWeekly: #BradleyManning: #LGBT activists call for protest against @SFPride committee http://t.co/bndwLxFQGY #Gay @talkhillcrest
San Francisco Pride’s public relations disaster regarding the false announcement that Iraq War whistleblower Bradley Manning was their 2013 Pride Grand Marshal is telling of how LGBT mega groups are whores to the 2-party system charade and also the 1% mega corporations.
Youtube search: SF Pride’s Bradley Manning Debacle
Bradley Manning: LGBT activists call for protest against SF Pride committee http://t.co/XxqlqKxMIO
Letter from 4 past San Francisco Pride Presidents calling for the reinstatement of Manning as grand marshal of LGBT Pride Celebration.
Dear San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee Board of Directors,
As past-presidents of the San Francisco Pride Celebration Committee we strongly disagree with Pride board president Lisa Williams and the board of directors decisions to overturned the vote to select Bradley Manning as a Grand Marshal in this year’s parade. We believe their action dishonors the history and spirit of LGBT inclusion and diversity that this event must represent.
We recognize that Bradley Manning’s selection is controversial but Pride has had many controversial Grand Marshals, speakers and contingents throughout the years. Rarely has the community stood in complete solidarity behind choices that were made. But the community dialogue, support and protests occurred and the parade marched on. Pride’s obligation is to create a platform for all voices to be heard not to shut down a debate even if it’s in the context of Grand Marshal.
The San Francisco LGBT community has one of the most diverse, inclusive and empowering parades in the world. Throughout the years hard working, committed volunteers had the courage to actively embrace and promote the diversity of our community and created space for everyone to be represented and to express their authenticity.
If the Pride leadership arbitrarily decides that they will no longer honor nor respect the electoral college because they elected a controversial figure, even if they represent a minority of the minority, how is that any different from the conservative majority who rendered us second class citizens all these years? The Board of SF Pride must reinstate Bradley Manning as a Grand Marshal.
Calvin Gipson, 1999-2000
Cecilia Chung, 2001
Joey Cain, 2003-2006
Nikki Calma 2011-2012
Past-Presidents
SF LGBT Pride Celebration Committee