It’s no secret that the city we call home is also home to many service members. Historically, San Diego has always been closely linked with the armed forces, and that remains true today. Take a look at the facts. Military spending accounts for one-fourth of the area’s entire economic output. San Diego County is home to the largest number of military retirees in the entire county with more than 260,000 veterans taking up residence here. And the region also serves as the home for thousands of active duty sailors and marines, including one-third of the U.S. Naval Pacific Fleet. MCB Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, MCRD San Diego, NAS North Island, NAB Coronado, Naval Station San Diego and the Navy’s Broadway Complex are all important fixtures in the city.

San Diego is undeniably a military town, and it’s safe to say that we all probably know someone who is currently serving in the U.S. armed forces or is a retired service member. And if you’re acquainted with someone with military experience, then you probably have some understanding of just how difficult his or her job is.

During times of peace it may be easy to overlook the efforts of our armed forces. But when we are at war – as we are now – the contributions of service members become much more apparent. The men and women who wear our country’s uniform are risking their lives on a daily basis. They’re fighting a perilous war in extremely hostile conditions halfway around the world from their families and friends. Many have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan two or three times. They continue fighting despite the fact that public support for the war has waned considerably over the last couple of years. Why do they keep fighting? Because it’s the job they signed up for and they are fulfilling their responsibilities to our country.

Their commitment is very commendable. I think we all owe our service members a big thank you. Those of us at Pride certainly believe they should be applauded. In an effort to show our gratitude to the courageous men and women who defend our country, Pride’s board of directors has decided to offer all active duty service members free admittance to this year’s Pride festival. With this gesture, we hope we can give members of the armed forces a couple of days of relaxation and fun in exchange for all they have given to us and our country. Tickets may be obtained by showing active duty ID at the festival ticket gates.

It’s also important that we remember that there is an extra burden placed on gay, lesbian and bisexual service members. A report from the Urban Institute estimates that there are approximately 65,000 GLB American service members currently serving in Iraq, many of whom are based in San Diego. But the reality of the situation is that these brave GLB men and women must serve their country without revealing they are GLB.

The Pentagon’s controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy states that any service member suspected of engaging in homosexual activity must be investigated. These investigations are intrusive, demeaning and usually result in the service member being discharged from the military. Many congress members and organizations like the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network are actively working to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but they have not yet been successful. So, for the time being, this discriminatory policy is a fact of life for all GLB military personnel.

Think about that for a moment. Imagine you are a GLB marine or sailor risking your life for your country in a far-off land, and yet you cannot even draw upon the support and encouragement of your partner back home because you’re afraid you might lose your job. That’s a source of support that most service members take for granted, but it’s largely denied to service members from the GLB community.

I would encourage everyone to take some time during this year’s Pride season to honor the service members among us. They’re performing a treacherous job in a stressful environment, and they rarely receive any thanks for their efforts. No matter how you feel about the war in Iraq, I think we can all agree that the men and women who are fighting the war deserve our respect and gratitude.