Sgt. Eric Alva finished his career with the Marines (and a life with two legs) when he stepped on a land mine on March 21, 2003, the first day of “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” As the Washington Post notes, he was widely honored as the first American casualty of the war, with personal visits from Rumsfeld and Bush. I wonder if they’ll be seen with him now that he’s come out:
[I] can almost hear it now — “Oh, yeah, he’s that gay Marine.” I’m okay with that. The truth is, something’s wrong with this ban. I have to say something. I mean, you’re asking men and women to lie about their orientation, to keep their personal lives private, so they can defend the rights and freedoms of others in this country, and be told, “Well, oh, yeah, if you ever decide to really meet someone of the same sex and you want the same rights, sorry, buddy, you don’t have the right.”
Fighting over here, so we can fight over there. Or something like that.  Thank you, Sgt. Alva.
~
Today, Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) introduced – with 109 cosponsors – a bill to finally get rid of the abomination that is the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. It’s not a matter over which reasonable people can disagree – it’s long past time to end it.
mosquito
lesbians and gays are too often the unsung heroes….
mary beth
bravo to
you
your more man than those who won’t stand up and fight for our country’s freedom!!!!!!!!
gay mom of a straight marine
peter robertson
Three anonymous donations totaling $625 gave been given to the Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State “In Honor of SSgt. Eric Alva, USMC.”
US Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva was the first American wounded in the war in Iraq. On March 21, 2003, he was traveling in Iraq in a convoy to Basra with his battalion when he stepped on a landmine, breaking his right arm and damaging his leg so badly that it needed to be amputated. Alva was awarded a Purple Heart and received a medical discharge from the military.
Now, Alva has come out, and he’s working with the Human Rights Campaign to speak out against the military “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy banning gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans from serving in the armed forces. On Feb. 28, 2007, Alva joined Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., in calling for an end to the destructive “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†policy. Alva told Congress, “I’m an American who fought for his country. Who’d have ever guessed the first American wounded was a gay Marine.â€
http://www.bulldogpride.org