Leonard Matlovich is buried the Congrsnal Cemeteray beneath a grave stone that reads, “A Gay Vietnam Veteran.”
Contents:
- THE HISTORY BEHD FAMO ‘GAY VIETNAM VETERAN’ HEADSTONE
- THE HISTORY BEHD FAMO ‘GAY VIETNAM VETERAN’ HEADSTONE
- MEET THE GAY VIETNAM VETERAN WHOSE GRAVE IS A BEAN FOR HOPE
THE HISTORY BEHD FAMO ‘GAY VIETNAM VETERAN’ HEADSTONE
”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. 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 HISTORY BEHD FAMO ‘GAY VIETNAM VETERAN’ HEADSTONE
On April 30th, the 37th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the photo of gay Vietnam veteran Technil Sergeant Leonard Matlovich's powerful tombstone rurfaced onle -- sparkg discsn of s famo phrase:"When I was the ary they gave me a medal for killg two men and a discharge for lovg one."A purple heart and bronze star recipient, Matlovich was discharged om the U.S.
"And the most pellg I have ever read is on a tombstone Congrsnal Cemetery, not far om the Capol."Matlovich's stggle triggered a natnal movement and discsn of gay rights -- pecially the ary. Matlovich died on June 22, 1988 om plitns of HIV/AIDS after years of speakg out for the e.In the sectn of the webse dited to the story behd tombstone, not the scriptn of his last name at the foot of the memorial is the only tie to Matlovich himself, as he wanted the stone to be a monument for all gay veterans.
MEET THE GAY VIETNAM VETERAN WHOSE GRAVE IS A BEAN FOR HOPE
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. 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.