First Marine injured in the Iraq war is gay
I just received this interesting article on a news list I’m on. Apparently, the first Marine injured in Iraq - Sgt. Eric Alva - is gay and is now working with HRC to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I was really impressed with his interview responses. They said what needed to be said and said it well. One comment had me laughing, others were quite serious, and the last just made me smile. Way to go Eric!
Defending His Country, but Not Its ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy
Washington Post
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Here’s the press release from SLDN announcing the renewed attempt to repeal DADT. Maybe it’ll get somewhere this time.
Congressman Marty Meehan to Re-Introduce Legislation to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
February 22, 2007
Finally, when searching for a link for the article, I ran across this blog which covers the issue in more detail.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
One of my readers commented recently that gay rights are ’special rights’, and since Alva is a gay member of the United States military I am wondering if my reader feels that this patriotic American has any reason to want justice. Alva is bravely fighting to end the bigoted notion of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ that has cost the U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars, and ended the military careers of many citizens. While Alva was ready to give his life for his country my reader sits in America hoping to deny ’special rights’ to patriotic citizens. One really has to wonder what goes on in the heads of bigoted conservatives.
March 4th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Copied (with permission) from a listserve upon which this article was posted.
“Thanks for posting this John. As other gay vet’s like myself will tell
you, it’s a never ending battle to keep one’s sexual orientation a
secret while in the military. If you are a woman, it’s tougher in my
opinion and through my experience. You are constantly getting hit on
and if you refuse/reject those advances you are automatically considered
and called a lesbian. Thus if you are wise, you have at least one or
several male friends who pass for “straight” and be seen out in public
with them.”
* L.S., Decatur, IL