At Amsterdam Pride, a Salute to the Dutch Military

Gay service members in the Dutch military participated as an official group in Amsterdam's gay pride parade for the first time over the weekend, the Associated Press reports.

A boat sponsored by the country's Defense Ministry, which has banned discrimination against gays in the military since 1974, joined dozens of other floats navigating through the canal parade. In previous years, the defense department group Foundation for Homosexuals in the Armed Forces had been denied permission by the ministry to participate as an official part of the festivities.

"The political leaders thought it was not appropriate to wear a uniform at this kind of parade," said Maj. Peter Kees Hamstra, a foundation spokesman. "This shows everyone that the climate is changing."

Uniformed men and women on board were joined by open service advocates from elsewhere in the world, including U.S. Army Lt. Dan Choi and British naval officer Lt. Cmdr. Mandy McBain.

AP story and photos of this year's Amsterdam canal parade can be found here.