Pentagon to Hold First Gay Pride Celebration

This year’s milestones for gay rights didn’t end with key influencers such as President Barack Obama and Jay-Z endorsing marriage equality.

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The U.S. Department of Defense has announced it will hold its first ever event commemorating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride.

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Details of the celebration are scant, but CNN reports senior Defense Department officials are scheduled to take part in the celebration.

"The Defense Department is planning an LGBT Pride Month event for later this month," Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Laniez said in a statement issued Thursday.

Unthinkable just a ago, when the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy prohibited gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, the announcement comes weeks after Obama and Vice President Joe Biden threw their support behind gay marriage.

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Gay rights has become an important issue in the upcoming presidential election, with Obama’s stance on gay marriage helping galvanize influential donors around his campaign.  Meanwhile, presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, as well as Bristol Palin, have slammed Obama’s stance.