Leonard Matlovich: The Gay Milary Hero You've Probably Never Heard Of | HuffPost Voic

Contents:

• LEONARD MATLOVICH: THE GAY MILARY HERO YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF
• THE HISTORY BEHD FAMO ‘GAY VIETNAM VETERAN’ HEADSTONE
• MEET THE GAY VIETNAM VETERAN WHOSE GRAVE IS A BEAN FOR HOPE
• LEONARD MATLOVICH TOMBSTONE: GAY VIETNAM VETERAN'S GRAVE RURFAC IN REDD ONLE DISCSN (PHOTO)

LEONARD MATLOVICH: THE GAY MILARY HERO YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF

"A Gay Vietnam Veteran, " reads bold letters. C., where a clter of gay veterans are buried.

It almost seemed better whout a name, like was a symbolic grave for all the gay soldiers who fought for their untry but had to hi their te selv. To the gay muny, he was the first U. It was March 1975 when he walked up to his mandg officer and hand him a letter statg that he was gay.

But he ma a name for himself as a vol gay rights advote at a time when there weren't many. ___________________Also on The Huffgton Post:Gay Pri Around The World Popular the CommunyYou May Like. ”And while many of the plot’s occupants were Foundg Fathers or lawmakers om the Revolutnary War era, there is one more recently terred man whose tombstone is noteworthy bee don’t actually bear his Force tech sergeant, LGBTQIA+ advote, and HIV/AIDS activist Leonard Matlovich is buried the Congrsnal Cemetery beneath a grave stone that simply reads, “A Gay Vietnam Veteran.

THE HISTORY BEHD FAMO ‘GAY VIETNAM VETERAN’ HEADSTONE

He published a memo March 1975, after 12 years the Air Force, announcg his g out as a gay man. “After some years of uncertaty I have arrived at the ncln that my sexual preferenc are homosexual as opposed to heterosexual, ” Matlovich wrote to his mandg officer. “Durg his admistrative discharge hearg, Matlovich was asked by an attorney if he would be willg sign a document pledgg to ‘never practice homosexualy aga’ orr to rema the ary, ” acrdg to Air Force history.

”Comg out, however, ma Matlovich to a major player what would bee the gay rights movement, even landg him — uniform — on the ver of a September 1975 TIME magaze issue alongsi a headle that read “I Am a Homosexual. Instead, Matlovich beme a gay rights activist the fight for the equal treatment of the LGBTQIA+ muny until his ath.

The headstone belongg to a gay Vietnam veteran still today remas a poignant remr of the homophobia faced by the LGBTQ+ muny on a daily basis.

MEET THE GAY VIETNAM VETERAN WHOSE GRAVE IS A BEAN FOR HOPE

He arranged for his own burial at Congrsnal Cemetery, and signed his tombstone which reads: “A Gay Vietnam Veteran.

Had Leonard Matlovich (1943–1988) never publicly admted his homosexualy to Air Force officials 1975 he might have retired om the ary and slipped quietly to oblivn. Instead, on March 6, 1975 wh 12 years of exemplary ary service, he wrote and livered a letter to his mandg officer which he openly admted his homosexualy.

LEONARD MATLOVICH TOMBSTONE: GAY VIETNAM VETERAN'S GRAVE RURFAC IN REDD ONLE DISCSN (PHOTO)

For thoands of gay and lbian Amerins, particularly durg the 25 years followg World War II, exprsg their homosexualy publicly remaed unthkable.

That changed one warm June night 1969 when a route police raid agast the Stonewall Inn, a private gay club New York’s Greenwich Village, met wh unexpected opposn.

The men who had always been easily targeted for their homosexualy cid to fight back.