Inspired by Barack Obama’s election as America’s first African-American president, a gay and lesbian support group broke new ground of its own in Temecula on the Fourth of July.

For the first time, members of a local chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) marched in Temecula’s Star Spangled Banner Parade in Old Town.

Offering a new look at the 17th annual event – which coincided with the 150th anniversary of the community’s hardscrabble beginning – about 40 members of the group joined an eclectic mix of parade floats, marching bands and politically tinged displays.

Vinnie Pompei, vice president of the southwest Riverside County PFLAG chapter, said members decided about six months ago to participate in their first Temecula parade.

"The city was very welcoming of us," Pompei said. "They didn’t make us feel strange. We commend them."

The goal, he said, was to underscore the group’s patriotic underpinnings.

"We’re moving in the right direction," Pompei, a Temecula resident, said of the wave of change that has swept the nation as a result of President Obama’s victory. "We’re more open-minded and we’re doing the right thing."

Pompei was flanked by other members of the group, which formed several years ago, as they waited in a shady spot prior to the start of the parade.

Moments later, they stepped off the curb and into the bright sunlight for the half-mile walk to the north end of the city’s historic business district.

One PFLAG member carried a sign that read: "I love my LBGF." Another sign extolled: "God bless PFLAG." Yet another proclaimed: "I love my gay Marine."

Some PFLAG members bore a human rights logo – a yellow equal sign set against a blue background – which stands for equality. Some wore t-shirts emblazoned with the word "Proudally."

PFLAG has more than 500 affiliates throughout the United States, including its southwest Riverside County chapter, according to the national organization’s web site.

Some local group members sat in the back of a pickup as they plied the parade route.

PFLAG Temecula dedicated its march to two 11-year-old boys, who have recently become symbols of the gay and lesbian civil rights movement, by displaying their pictures on a poster positioned on the vehicle’s front doors.

On April 6, one of the boys, Carl Walker-Hoover of Massachusetts, made national headlines when he hanged himself.

His family later attributed the suicide to anti-gay slurs and innuendos the boy had suffered at the hands of acquaintances.

The boy’s mother said on Oprah Winfrey’s television show that much of the verbal abuse her son endured stemmed from a classmate’s comment: "You act like you’re feminine."

Jaheem Herrera is said to have taken his own life for the same reason 10 days later in Georgia.

Pompei said it is sad that such a show of support is necessary to demonstrate the need for basic human rights.

"There are a huge percentage of parents in this community kicking their children, who are still in high school, out of homes," he said. "We really want to be there in case anyone needs us. We love and accept everyone, and we are all volunteers."

"We have distraught kids who don’t know where to Advertisement
turn," Pompei continued. "It’s a difficult time for family and friends when someone comes out. There were a couple of [local] suicides a couple of years ago."

Trailing the PFLAG vehicle was a rainbow of red, orange, yellow, blue, green and purple balloons, which the group members followed down Old Town Front St.

In order to compensate for gasps and other spectator reactions, a few supporters in the crowd mustered shouts and applauses as the group passed by.

Pompei said he knew of at least 100 people who came to the parade to show their support for the group’s premier appearance.

Marching behind PFLAG, Wildomar’s VFW Post 1508 struck a vein of popular enthusiasm as its members marched into view.

Not far behind PFLAG were the Temecula Valley Twirlers and Pom, a baton twirling and cheerleading group, wearing black, white and pink costumes.

Knights of Columbus members made their presence known with loud staccato bursts of "left, left, left, right, left."

A Riverside County Fire Department truck blasted its horns and siren along the route, actions that drew some of the most appreciative responses from spectators.

Other veteran groups, beauty pageant winners, equestrian clubs, a Boston Tea Party float carrying Jose Compean – a former Border Patrol agent convicted of shooting an undocumented immigrant in Texas – and a black GMC Sierra that had "Jesus Christ will transform your life" painted on its doors helped round out the procession.

After the parade, onlookers offered a range of reactions to PFLAG’s appearance.

"I guess anyone can march in a parade," said Steve Jokela, a nine-year Temecula resident.

Camp Pendleton serviceman Ethan Stroud, 18, said he objected to PFLAG’s participation.

"It ruined the whole parade," said Stroud, a Florida native. "It was disturbing to see their kind out there."

A 19-year-old serviceman from Colorado said he shared Stroud’s views but he declined to identify himself to a reporter.

Cindy Riem of Rainbow said she also thought the group’s involvement was inappropriate.

"There were a lot of kids in the audience who have Christian parents trying to set an example for them," Riem said. "The Fourth of July parade is wonderful. It brings the community together. I’m surprised [city officials] let them in."

Brittaney Bennett said she had no problem with PFLAG’s participation. Her boyfriend, 23-year-old Bryan Wapner, said he had no opinion.

Some Independence Day celebrators didn’t know of PFLAG’s purpose when they were asked to comment. Most had no opinion when the acronym was explained.

Passing out religious tracts, Juanito Lim said that it was fine that PFLAG marched. He didn’t come to Temecula for the parade.

Instead, the 37-year-old Menifee resident and Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship member said he comes to Old Town every Saturday to tell people how they can be saved by Jesus Christ.

"Everyone has his own opinion," Lim said of PFLAG.

City officials said they had no qualms about opening the parade to PFLAG members and stated they had received no complaints afterward.

"Everyone is allowed to participate," Dawn Adamiak, the city’s parade organizer and senior recreation coordinator, said in a telephone interview three days after the event. "We don’t turn anyone away until we hit our magic number [of entries]."