Leonard Matlovich: The Soldier Who Came Out On The Cover Of TIME
Leonard MatlovichFollowing his discharge from the military, Leonard Matlovich became a prominent gay activist and even appeared on a TIME magazine cover.
Leonard Matlovich spent his life — and death — fighting for the rights of LGBTQ soldiers. Even his tombstone stands as a protest against discriminatory military policies, reading: “When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”
The son of a retired Air Force sergeant, Matlovich grew up surrounded by the U.S. military. In 1963, he enlisted and fought bravely in Vietnam. But Matlovich soon decided to bring his fight to another front.
Closeted, Matlovich learned that gay activist Frank Kameny was looking for someone to challenge the military’s ban on homosexuality. Since Matlovich had a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and an impeccable military record, he believed that he might be the perfect person for the job.
“They’re looking for a candidate to challenge the gays in the military laws,” Matlovich told a friend named Jeff Dupre. “Someone who has a good record to make it legal to be in the service and be open. I’ve got these awards from the service. I think I can do it.”
In the ensuing weeks, Matlovich told his commanding officer that he was gay. When Matlovich refused to promise that he’d “never practice homosexuality again,” the military discharged him.
Leonard MatlovichLeonard Matlovich’s tombstone stands as his final protest against discriminatory military policies.
He spent the rest of his life fighting for the rights of gay soldiers. “I’m intensely proud to be gay and you should be, too,” Matlovich told audiences around the country. He warned them, “Unless we state our case, we’ll continue to be robbed of our role models, our heritage, our history, and our future.”
Matlovich lost his fight to rejoin the Air Force, and he later succumbed to complications from AIDS in 1988. His friends nonetheless remembered him for his bravery.
“He … was the epitome of a perfect soldier,” said Dupre. “One of those people that stuck his neck out, and he was proud to be the person to challenge that law.”
