Front cover of 1975 TIME magazine with Sgt. Matlovich.
Headstone dedicated to Sgt. Matlovich in Washington, DC
.
A Vietnam War veteran, Matlovich appeared on the cover of TIME magazine in 1975 with the headline “I Am a Homosexual: The Gay Drive for Acceptance” - a full eighteen years before the ‘one step forward, two steps back’ enactment of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” brought the struggle of gay and lesbian military personnel into the public eye.
The TIME story followed the sergeant’s legal struggle to continue serving in the military after coming out to his commanding officers, including his lawsuit against the secretary of the Air Force.
Although Matlovich was not allowed to service his country in the armed forces again, his lawsuit paved the way for a vital change in military policy in 1981 that allowed gay troops to be discharged honorably instead of dishonorably. He was also the first nationally visible gay service member.
He died from AIDS in 1988. (glaadblog.org)
A Vietnam War veteran, Matlovich appeared on the cover of TIME magazine in 1975 with the headline “I Am a Homosexual: The Gay Drive for Acceptance” - a full eighteen years before the ‘one step forward, two steps back’ enactment of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” brought the struggle of gay and lesbian military personnel into the public eye.
The TIME story followed the sergeant’s legal struggle to continue serving in the military after coming out to his commanding officers, including his lawsuit against the secretary of the Air Force.
Although Matlovich was not allowed to service his country in the armed forces again, his lawsuit paved the way for a vital change in military policy in 1981 that allowed gay troops to be discharged honorably instead of dishonorably. He was also the first nationally visible gay service member.
He died from AIDS in 1988. (glaadblog.org)
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