Seattle Pride Parade show of support for gay community

Ken Allen, of Portland, gazed up at the Space Needle and knew he and thousands of others were welcome at the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday.

"I'm impressed they're flying the gay flag over the Space Needle," he said. "To me that shows the inclusiveness of the city."

Allen and hordes of other people lined Fourth Avenue downtown to watch people in rainbow-colored boas, socks, earrings, beads and wigs marching in the 37th annual parade.

About 165 floats, many decorated with the theme "Over the Rainbow," showed support for the gay community with balloons, flags, booming music and several versions of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz skipping through the Emerald City.

Grant Rehnberg, 23, of Seattle, recalled attending last year's parade — one of the first times he came out as openly gay. The parade gives him a sense of security he didn't have in the past, he said.

"I feel like it's a community and it's fun," Rehnberg said.

One of Rehnberg's friends, Kayla Beckman, attended the parade as well, wearing a Dorothy costume.

"I just think it's important to stress support for these people in the community," she said.

Tens of thousands of people turned out to watch similar parades in San Francisco, New York City and Chicago.

Chicago's parade included the first-ever float from the Cubs and an appearance by the Stanley Cup — the National Hockey League's championship trophy. Participants in New York's annual parade included Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson.

But being openly gay continues to be a struggle, especially for those in the military, who must hide their sexual orientation, noted Eric Alva, one of the grand marshals in Seattle's parade.

Alva served in the Marine Corps, retiring as a staff sergeant after 13 years, and kept the fact he was gay a secret.

While serving in Iraq in 2003, he stepped on a land mine, breaking his right arm and damaging his leg so badly that it needed to be amputated.

Four years later he came out and has been an advocate for gay rights.

He supports repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" law that bars people who are openly gay, lesbian or bisexual from military service.

"My whole dream was the uniform," said Alva, who lives in San Antonio. "My sexual orientation wasn't a factor because I was a good Marine. There are people like me who served honorably."

In May the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to repeal the policy. The Senate is to vote on the issue this summer.

Retired Rear Admiral Alan Steinman of the U.S. Coast Guard and United States Public Health Service also marched in the parade with the American Veterans for Equal Rights.

He lied about his sexual orientation for 25 years while he was in the service. Now he's considered the highest-ranking person to come out, and he's pushing for the repeal.

"For a gay person, you have to be silent, celibate and invisible," said Steinman, of DuPont, Pierce County. "Think about what that means."

Christine Willmsen: 206-464-3261 or cwillmsen@seattletimes.com.