Honoring Gay Veterans

PALM SPRINGS, CA -- Hundreds of people gathered at the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City Saturday to honor gays in the military who have given their lives in the service of their country.

Five years ago, Cathedral City became home of America's only memorial dedicated solely to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.

Gay veteran and president of the Palm Springs Veterans for Peace, Tom Swann, led the effort to have the monument built. In his speech at this years event he said; "Our critics say the gay veterans and Jewish veteran memorials in this cemetery divide us." "We say that you can be unique and celebrate diversity and still be united."

"Today we remember men and women who fought for their country knowing their country was not ready for them to fully reveal who they are," said Cathedral City Councilman Paul Marchand, one of the speakers.

It has been estimated that there are more than 1 million LGBT veterans in the US. According to SLDN (Servicemembers Legal Defense Network) about 67,000 LGBT people are serving in the military at any given time.