June 22, 1988(1988-06-22) (aged 44) West Hollywood, California, U.S.
Buried
Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
Allegiance
United States
Service/branch
United States Air Force
Years of service
1963–1975
Rank
Technical sergeant
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Awards
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Air Force Commendation
Other work
Gay rights activist
Technical Sergeant Leonard Phillip Matlovich (July 6, 1943 – June 22, 1988)[1] was an American Vietnam War veteran, race relations instructor, and recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.[2] He was the first gay service member to purposely out himself to the military to fight their ban on gays, and perhaps the best-known openly gay man in the United States of 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.[3][4][5][6] Matlovich was the first named openly gay person to appear on the cover of a U.S. newsmagazine.[7][8] According to author Randy Shilts, "It marked the first time the young gay movement had made the cover of a major newsweekly. To a movement still struggling for legitimacy, the event was a major turning point."[9]
^"Gay Activist Leonard Matlovich, 44, Is Buried With Full Military Honors". Chicago Tribune. July 3, 1988. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2010 – via newspapers.com.
^Estes, Steve (2007), Ask & Tell: Gay and Lesbian Veterans Speak Out, Univ of North Carolina Press, pp. 185–187, ISBN 9780807831151
^"I Am a Homosexual" TIME Magazine (September 8, 1975)
^Steve Kornacki (December 1, 2010). "The Air Force vs. the "practicing homosexual"". Salon.com. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
^Matthew S. Bajko (December 1, 2010). "Friends plan plaque for gay Castro vet". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
^Servicemembers United. "The DADT Digital Archive Project". Servicemembers United. Archived from the original on August 3, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
^Miller, Hayley. "40 Years Since Leonard Matlovich's Time Magazine Cover". hrc.org. Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
^"Leonard Matlovich Makes Time". Archived from the original on February 20, 2009.
^Randy Shilts (1993). Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the U.S. Military. Macmillan. p. 227. ISBN 9780312342647. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
Technical Sergeant Leonard Phillip Matlovich (July 6, 1943 – June 22, 1988) was an American Vietnam War veteran, race relations instructor, and recipient...
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