The California LGBTQ Veterans Memorial is the first official veterans memorial of its type to be dedicated in the United States. The California Legislature passed legislation creating the memorial in 2018. It was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in that same year. The memorial represents many years of dedicated work by LGBTQ veterans to gain formal recognition for their service and sacrifice to our nation.

The granite obelisk, decorated with an eagle with out-stretched wings emblazoned with a pink triangle, is located at the Desert Park in Cathedral City. It is accompanied by a plaque reading in part, “This memorial is dedicated in honor of [LGBTQ] Veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the cherished freedom we hold dear and enjoy today.”

(Assembly Bill 2439, Chapter 172, 2018)