Lt. Dan Choi, whose attempt to re-enter the Army was ended last month when they shredded his paperwork, joined other LGBT Vererans this morning at a vigil organized by GetEQUAL at the grave of Sgt. Leonard Matlovich. The vigil is designed to honor the service of Matlovich and to put pressure on the Senate, which begins its so-called “lame duck” session today, to pass the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Sgt. Leonard Matlovich's Grave
Via Wikipedia:
“Matlovich was the first gay service member to fight the ban on gays in the military, and perhaps the best-known gay man in America in the 1970s next to Harvey Milk. His fight to stay in the United States Air Force after coming out of the closet became a cause célèbre around which the gay community rallied. His case resulted in articles in newspapers and magazines throughout the country, numerous television interviews, and a television movie on NBC. His photograph appeared on the cover of the September 8, 1975, issue of Time magazine, making him a symbol for thousands of gay and lesbian servicemembers and gay people generally. In October 2006, Matlovich was honored by LGBT History Month as a leader in the history of the LGBT community.”
Autumn Sandeen lays wreath at Sgt. Leonard Matlovich's grave
Autumn Sandeen, Dan Choi, Evelyn Thomas, other LGBT Vets
LGBT Vets holding GetEQUAL Signs
LGBT Veterans graveside
Via GetEQUAL:
“The vigil, held to coincide with the starting day of the lame-duck session of Congress, will send a clear and frank message to the United States Senate – repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†now. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, President Barack Obama, and other Democratic leaders have continually reassured the LGBT community that the legislation would be repealed during the current session of Congress.
“The vigil is set to center around the gravesite of gay Vietnam Veteran Leonard Matlovich. Matlovich, a recipient of both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, made headlines in the 1970s after he came out as openly gay and fought to stay in the U.S. Air Force – landing him on the cover of Time Magazine. Matlovich’s tombstone at the Congressional National Cemetery is meant to be a memorial to all gay veterans and is inscribed with the well-known phrase: “When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”
Photos by Justin Elzie, the first Marine to come out under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”