Ten British
soldiers and members of the Royal Air Force joined thousands
of gay men and women in Manchester's gay pride parade
Saturday as they sought new recruits for the British
Army. Supporters packed 10-deep cheered on the 10
troopers--men and women who volunteered to
participate--as they waved to the crowds and smiled
along the two-mile route through central Manchester.
The British government lifted a ban on gays
serving in the country's armed forces in 2000 after
the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the
restriction was a violation of human rights.
Surrounded by a group of men wearing silver
paint, angel wings, blond wigs, and not much else,
warrant officer Lutha Magloire said the Army was there
to show its support and, if possible, to sign up new
recruits. "We don't really care what sexual
orientation you are if you want to come and join us in
the Army," the 39-year-old soldier said. "Whether
straight or not, the Army does not care and does not ask
that question to recruits."
The soldiers were welcomed by the more than
45,000 people who turned out for the three-day event.
"I think it's great the Army is coming," said the
festival director, Claire Turner. "They're showing that they
welcome gay people and the Army is something gay people can
be interested in."
The Royal Air Force was there too, with 20
people staffing a float in the parade that featured a
replica of an airplane cockpit. It was the second
consecutive year that the RAF participated. (AP)
