To: Heritage of Pride, Inc., LAPride.org, Chicago Pride, Richard Pfeiffer (Parade Coordinator), Seattle Pride, President and Chairman of the Board Eric Bennett, Capital Pride Alliance, Ryan Bos Executive Director, San Diego LGBT Pride, and ...

Bernie Sanders as Gay Pride Grand Marshal for his Record of Support since 1972 Representing LGBTQ...

TO Heritage of Pride, Inc.
154 Christopher Street, Suite 1D
New York, New York 10014

Bernie Sanders has been on public record for LGBTQ equality since 1972.
Since 1972, Bernie Sanders has been a public advocate for a position that would become known as "Pro-Choice" in the years following Roe v Wade.

In 1972, LGBTQ were still being classified by doctors across the world as being "mentally abnormal"... but Bernie Sanders has long advocated for LGBTQ rights and equality.

In 1985, as Mayor of Burlington, VT, Bernie Sanders recognized the "important contributions" LGBTQ people made to the "improvement of the quality of life" in the community we provide as a people. In 1985, Bernie Sanders announced June 21st as Gay Pride Parade Day.

It is time we as a community collectively recognize Bernie Sanders in our history for who he is.

Outside of the election of 2016, Bernie Sanders IS a lifelong advocate for the betterment of LGBTQ lives, and moreover for LGBTQ dignity as a culture and people. He is an advocate for the equality of Genders.

Overlooking Bernie Sanders' record of action, for a celebrity Grand Marshal - who has had little to no recognizable effect on our lives as LGBTQ people is wrongful.

Bernie Sanders helped pass some of the first anti-Hate Crime laws in the nation to extend to LGBTQ in 1990 in Vermont, and he voted against the hush order on gays in the military DADT in 1993, and he voted against DOMA in 1996 - and stood on the right side of history in each of those votes.

Recognize Bernie Sanders as a Hero for LGBTQ Rights, Liberty, Equality, and for the continued dignity of the LGBTQ community - represented in the processes of American government.

Why is this important?

I would like to see Bernie Sanders - regardless of his candidacy for the president of the United States in 2016 - be recognized for his service in legislative and executive actions in his capacity as representative of the People. Bernie Sanders' record for standing for the equality and rights of the LGBTQ community is unshakable and he needs to be recognized for who he is. From a time when being so aligned could have cost him his whole career, he stood with us unmoved from the task, without needing to look to polling results to know how to react or on which side of history to stand.