lanes and struck parked cars. it took a position of cover, not knowing the suspect had been injured by returned fire. when additional units arrived, it was discovered the suspect had been seriously injured and was found unconscious. officers rendered aide, called for an ambulance, and retrieve the hand and the suspect had used. tonight officers patrick grant and michael tursi are being recognized for their efforts. they are being awarded the gold medal of valor. [applause]

>> captain paul chignell, along with officers tastings ahastingd lopez. >> good evening to you all.

my pleasure to introduce richard hastings and that lopez. -- matt lopez. saturday, july 16, 2011, officer richard hastings and asked matt lopez were on duty and in uniform. their primary assignment was to be on a fixed post detail on the imminence of a railway platform on third street between oakdale avenue and plu avenue. this platform and the surrounding areas are notorious for high incidence of robberies, aggravated assaults, indiscriminate shootings, gang activity, illegal firearm possession, as well as a multitude of quality of life cripes. the bayview station has dedicated a high-level police resources to this area, particularly to a recent rash of robberies on and adjacent to

the platform. well on the platform, officers tastings and lopez contacted the subject later identified as kenneth harding jr.. he was on the railway vehicle. the officers determined the suspect was riding without benefit obtained. the officers escorted the subject off of the vehicle without incident and requested he sit down on one of the benches nearby. mr. harding complied with that request well officer lopez conducted a standard warrant record check. as he heard officers radio transmission, he suddenly leapt to his feet and started to run east across third street into the crowded plaza with officers and foot pursuit. suddenly, and from a distance of 10 feet from the pursuing officers, harding a ride of the northern part of the plaza and

reached his right hand under his left arm and then fired several rounds from his handgun at both of the officers. the officers immediately engaged in a firefight with the suspect. he then it fell to the ground, suffering a gunshot wounds. officers approached the suspect to taken into custody and render medical aid. numerous responding officers arrived on the scene and observed the officers surrounded by a mob, many of whom were screaming and provoking hostility towards officers. as they attempted to secure the time seen -- crime scene, the mom became increasingly provocative with the threats directed towards officers. ultimately officers from four police stations and the tactical unit arrived to clear the plaza of the mall. in the aftermath of the shooting, it was determine the

suspect was of recidivist criminal who was wanted in seattle, washington, for the murder of young, pregnant woman just one week before. this inference is the police department delayed -- delineates the criteria that must be met for an officer of the san francisco police department to be awarded the medal of valor. that includes outstanding bravery beyond that expected in a line of duty, or failure to take such action would not justify censure. with the rest of life actually existed and officer had time to evaluate the risk, and where the objective is of the sufficient importance to the risk, and lastly and most importantly, where the officer accomplish the objective. on july 16, 2011, officer richard hastings and matthew lopez the kill each and every requested criteria for the medal of valor. they exemplified bravery of the highest level.

in doing their duty and deterred by the fact that their lives were in imminent peril. they engaged in a gunbattle with a career criminal who was engaged with the ones in respect for public life and wanted to escape to not be held accountable for a vicious murder. san francisco police officers know at any time and anywhere they need to put their lives on the line to do their duty to stop a criminal. july 16, 2011, officer richard hastings and mathew lopez put their lives on the line and did their duty. for that, they're being awarded the most prestigious award, the gold medal of valor. [applause]

>> those were the last of the nominees and recipients. the chief amount to the closing. -- will now do the closing. many of the people on the stage and an audience were present.

as amazing as the stories were, you had to see it to believe it. some of the actions these officers took. we recognize the tennis solomon a moment ago, but i want to recognize something. many of officers recognize are not first generation san francisco police officers. four of the six are not first generation san francisco police officers. can i get the other generation of police officers that gave us these police officers to stand up and be recognized. [applause] >> talk about raising your kids right. another recognition i want to make is we are going to

experience in the next 30 days of record exit of police officers, especially commissioned officers due to the sun setting of the retirement program. many of the people that are going out red nominations tonight. if i could, all officers that will be retiring and leaving us, they we think you for your service by getting you to stand. [applause] that is going to close our program. know that all of these officers when they get back to work, they will go out again looking for trouble and probably find it. i trust they will demonstrate again what these officers do every day, and that is keep this city safe. the command staff and commission will be available for pictures. family and kids for sure.

if you can get your metal back from this little guy. thank you very much. hopefully we will see you all again soon. keep the officers in your thoughts and prayers. keep them safe. [applause] >> good morning, everyone. thank you for making this a reality. without you, it would not have happened. let's hear it for the volunteers.

[applause] >> i have organized this for 17 years. together, we are the friends of the pink chronicle. we are trying to get the message out of what can happen. we are all wearing our print -- pink triangle t-shirts income robbery with those who were in it in concentration camps. there are reminders of hate and intolerance and an appreciation of what we -- of where we stand during pride weekend. it is to remind you of the hatred and prejudice of the past and that it still exists in some parts of the world. while we have a wonderfully tolerance city, it is not as

tall or elsewhere. i would like to welcome congresswoman democratic leader nancy pelosi. [applause] the mayor of santa francisco, the honorable ed lee. [applause] former mayor and lifetime achievement grand marshal, brown jr. [applause] senator mark leno. [applause] assemblyperson tom amiano. [applause] san francisco treasurer jose

cisneros. [applause] the recorder of the city, phil. [applause] the president of the sentences court of supervisors, david ch iu. [applause] supervisor campos. [applause] supervisor wiener. [applause] supervisor cohen. [applause] and we're thrilled to have so many of the grand marshals at the parade. [applause]

carmen carrera of ru paul's drag race. [applause] global grand marshal bishop christopher. [applause] [applause] gilbert baker award recipient, gilbert baker himself. he is the creator of the international symbol, the rainbow flag. [applause] individual community grand marshals rebecca, gary -- i do

not know if he is here today because he has a very busy day. he hosts the pride run that is gone on in about 30 minutes. -- that is going on in about 30 minutes. and we are thrilled to once again have the san francisco lesbian and gay bad, the official bant -- band, the official band of pride week. [applause] we have the board chair, lisa williams as well as the executive director. [applause] the sisters of perpetual indulgence skerrit -- of perpetual indulgence, the castro alliance club, thankyou all.

[applause] thanks to danny for the website and d.j. josh, one of the community grand marshals. [applause] and i would like to thank all of you for your help, especially my sister colleen and my partner, jose. [applause] and my mother. everyone is so lucky to have you. we start off the program each year with a reminder of what the pink triangle is about. to tell the history of the pink triangle, please welcome the star of greece. -- of grease.

[applause] >> good morning writ -- good morning. this is too much to take in this early. you guys are amazing. the history of the pink triangle. the pink triangle was used by nazis in concentration camps to identify and shame homosexuals. this symbol, which was used in an attempt to label and shame, has been embraced by the gay community as a symbol of pride. [applause] that is right. however, in the 1930's and 1940's, there was nothing to celebrate. gays were forced to wear the pink triangle on their pockets

in the concentration camps. to identify them as homosexuals, to set them apart from the other prisoners. triangles of various colors were used to identify each category of undesirable. yellow for the jewish, brown for gypsies, red for political prisoners, green for prisoners, black for anti-socialist, purple for jehovah's witness, blue for immigrants, and tank for homosexuals. the pink triangles were slightly larger than the other triangle'' so that the guards could identify them from a distance. it is said that those who wore the pink triangles were singled out by the guards to receive harsher treatment and when the guards were finished with them, some of the other inmates would harm them as well. at the end of the war, when the concentration camps were finally

liberated, virtually all of the prisoners were released except for those with the pink triangle. many of those with pink triangles on their pockets were put back into prison and the nightmare continued. it is the same kind of senseless, irrational hatred that still haunts days, jews, blacks, and other minorities today. the taliban in afghanistan required non-muslims to wear identifying badges on their clothing, just as the nazis required their undesirables to wear those logos so long ago. history repeats itself. that is why 26 -- excuse me, that is why the twin peaks this play is so important. -- display is so important.

we have to help educate others and present -- and prevent it from happening again. what happened during the holocaust must never be repeated. [applause] >> to illustrate that that same kind of it hatred -- same kind of hatred exists, we would like to welcome mr. christopher to talk about his efforts in uganda, where they try to have legislation to execute days. [applause] -- execute gays.

>> what has been happening in you gonjeh. -- in uganda, in the old days of the yemen persecution of the homosexuals. homosexuality in uganda can be punished by death, hanging. and imprisonment for life. and for those who have called for homosexuality, they will be in prison for a number of years. and a woman cannot be a homosexual or else she will be punished.

it will be very difficult -- the execution of the people in uganda. we thought that this bill had been forgotten or thrown out. but the support that we heard from all over the world since 2009. it has been revived. some of the leaders are behind the revival of the bill. i am really worried what is going to happen. if it is passed, those things

could take place in this modern world it. i wonder how this could be possible? i do. it is my hope to resist and oppose this prejudice. this is a time of love for all. [applause] i have been hearing from the speech of the different -- it goes to show we need your

freedom. so that people are not discriminated because of what they are. homosexuals or lgbt people are also created by god and they should be respected. [applause] in you gotta -- in uganda, we hope that we will be able to think again. all people are created by god and should be respected. we need love for all without discrimination. [applause]

>> congresswoman and democratic leader nancy pelosi has a long history of being one of the very best friends of the lgbt community. she is an ideal representation of san francisco values. when he spoke at the pink triangle a number of years ago, she just announced she was running for minority whip of the house. it was a pleasure to introduce her as the next minority whip as well as a future speaker of the house. we are hoping that comes true again. [applause] please welcome our very own congresswoman, nancy pelosi. [applause] >> good morning. thank you very much for your kind words and great leadership, bring us all together time and

time again. as you were making the introductions earlier, all of the elected officials, the community leaders who are here, and the list goes on, i was recalling one time i was in liberia and we were dedicating a library to my colleague. when we were there, everybody in liberia was there. they listed all of these people. there may have been 12, 13, 14 speakers. everybody listed the names of those who had been named, what an honor it was to be your. -- t -- to be here. it was boiling hot writ it was

warmer and warmer and one speaker got up and got the biggest applause all when he said, "to all of the honored guests who are here, honor is granted." that does not mean i am not for early delighted to be here with everyone. it is always an honor to be here with the mayor. i cannot acknowledge how honored we are. that mayor lee and all the leadership he brings with him is with us to mark -- is with us this morning curvet willie brown started it with his legislation way back when. gilbert baker, you decorated many of our homes with your rainbow flags. and again, this of, welcome. we are like family to each other.

i said, this is not about tolerance. it is about respect, taking pride. that is what this weekend is about. [applause] as was mentioned so well, the history of this, it was a symbol of discrimination. it is now a source of pride. i want to take a moment to say to the bishop that i had the occasion to meet with the speaker of the parliament of uganda. a woman. she came to my office and we had a foreign policy cooperation. we give them aid. we talk about that. i think she was coming to talk about that. but i was coming to the meeting

to talk about the legislation in you gotta. -- in uganda. i told her that was such a deal breaker for us that a country would even consider this legislation. she said that this is not what you think it is. it is just about protecting children. that is what she said. but i made it clear that that may be the public face they want us to put that in -- to put on it in the united states, but we are following it very closely. the willingness for us to do more in terms of cooperation really rested on that, what happened with all that. you have done good work in trying to address the