Gay Vietnam War Vet Grave.

hey12delila · 6 months

[deleted]

Gentle_David · 6 months

The best thing about that line is that it isn't like a lot of other 'clever' quotes where if you think about them more cynically, they don't make sense; this one really does make sense and ridicules the insane hatred and irrational discrimination we used to have against homosexuality (and still do to some extent). [Edited some bad word choices]

gamerlen · 6 months

[deleted]

Cozen · 6 months

For anyone who is wondering this is the grave of Leonard Matlovich, a man who was famous for standing up and declaring "I am a homosexual" on the cover of Time magazine. He later died of HIV/Aids.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Matlovich

DannyFathom · 6 months

Powerful..

John_Barleycorn · 6 months

Whose grave is this? Why is the name cropped out? If he's proud enough to put this on his tombstone there is no reason to crop out the name.

ETA: Changed who's to whose.

mesosorry · 6 months

Gay veteran talks to Mitt Romney

underscorex · 6 months

Leonard Matlovich is a goddamned American hero. He was discharged from the USAF for being openly gay. He then sued the Air Force to get his job back. Not for money. Not for revenge. He sued the U.S. military to have the right to serve the country he loved.

He lost.

He embodied the principles of honor, service, and duty that so many who wear that uniform only claim to uphold. Dude is a stone hero in my book.

Ragnrok · 6 months

[deleted]

Deyster · 6 months

I don't understand the discharge from army thing due to sexual preference. If said person is not doing the sexual act with other soldiers while on duty, what's the fucking problem with the sexual preference?

You know that someone from CircleJerk will come here and say "SO GRAVE".

grandballoon · 6 months

Yes, "discharge" is a term that can relate to STI's. Hysterical.

Here's something that's not so funny. This man, and thousands like him, joined the armed services either because they genuinely believed they were going to help defend the country and people they loved, or because their government gave them no choice. Either way, they went in scared for a lot of reasons, probably not the least of which was the knowledge that if it were ever revealed that they love people of their own sex, they would be ostracized, court marshaled, very possibly threatened or hurt, and then tossed unceremoniously out of the organization for which they had risked everything. Imagine being born into a military family. Imagine growing up with a father, and grandfather, and uncles, and cousins who all entered the service. Imagine turning eighteen and signing up yourself. Imagine the pride you would see in the eyes of your family. Imagine the fear of shipping out to one of the most controversial and deadly wars in American history. Imagine fighting alongside men that you knew would kill for you, and who you would kill for. Imagine watching those men die. Imagine standing before your commanding officers as they ask you whether or not you're gay. Imagine being dishonorably discharged from the army your family has served for generations. Imagine breaking that line. Imagine returning to a country that hated you doubly, for your involvement in an unpopular war, and for just who you happen to love.

Not so funny anymore, is it?

The people in here who decide it's clever to make little jokes about the disgracing of men and women who did what they did because they cared about other humans beings disgust me. You should disgust yourselves. It's not funny. It's not original. Nobody think you're cute. Nobody likes you. You are pissing on the memory of some of the bravest and most unfairly treated people in Americans history. Don't try to rationalize it. It's not just a joke. It's a fundamental error in your ability to respect your fellow human beings. This man was bigger than you will ever be. Go piss up a rope, you unfunny little shits.

angryvet · 6 months

he served his country. May he rest in peace.

FireJunkie · 6 months

I think I've seen this before..

searching...

There it is

And also, this little gem of a comment

ponyprankster · 6 months

Homophobia is so gay! (and old!!)

alragusa · 6 months

Bigger picture:

Americans seem to approve more of paying fellow citizens to go around the world telling people how to live or killing them, than approve of fellow citizens having same sex partners whom dont affect them in the least.

Meghamoon · 6 months

Teared up. Very sad, but dreadfully and horrifically true :'(

Shiroke · 6 months

ಠ_ಠ

This man is a hero.

vorpalsword92 · 6 months

Every time this photo is posted on the internet, dipshits* always make bad jokes about it. Reddit unfortunately seems to be no exception.

jlxn · 6 months

Leonard Matlovich, google him.

anonymepelle · 6 months

I fail to see how beeng gay can have any relevance to weather or not you should be aloved to serve in the military.

When i was in the Navy one of my fellow artillerist were a lesbian, and she did better work than most other soldiers i worked with.

UrbanGuerrilla · 6 months

The military also discriminates against felons, as a felon i tried to join the military and even though my case was a juvenile conviction. They wouldn't let me join. But its okay because that is what the French Foreign Legion is for.

And people wonder why the USA imprisons more of their population than any other nation? Because you can get a felony charge so easy, they practically give felony's out. And not only that once you are a felon getting a place to live, and a job is near impossible, so most felons just go back to prison because they dont want to be homeless.

ginger_mcfreckle_vag · 6 months

Did he want that on there??

milagr05o5 · 6 months

Don't know about you reddit, but this made me sad. It rang true, and it points to cruelty and unfairness, which is how some humans choose to treat other humans. R.I.P., brave soldier - may your deeds and choices be remembered.

Jonk1967 · 6 months

Ironic, yes. Sad, yes. But also yes is that it is relic of a now defunct policy. Homosexual, lesbian and bisexual citizens and residents may now openly serve in the armed services. This is just a reminder of mistaken beliefs from the recent past. I had the honor to serve my nation as a non-commissioned officer in the Army for most of my adult life, as did my father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather. We all have stories of intolerant policies we were glad to see go. I seved with fine soldiers who had to hide their orientation. My father remembers being advised to leave my half Cherokee mother to save his career. My grandfather told of black combat veterans being arrested for using the white gate at the Gulfport shipyard as they came off transports from the combat theater. My great grandfather was forced to stand by while one of his best combat leaders was reassigned to a labor battalion during WWI because he was half Mexican. We all read the letter from my great great grandfather to his mother, saying that the War department (now DoD) refused to allow him to be commissioned from the ranks, because he ws a Jew, and officers had to be able to fulfill the duties of a chaplain if none were assigned. All of these policies have since gone the way of chattel slavery and child sacrifice for the harvest season. Remember them to prevent recurrence, but don't dwell there.

banway22 · 6 months

SOURCE

funkymonkeyq · 6 months

wow, what a great quote to demonstrate an absurd reality. thanks for that

jigby61 · 6 months

Well now I'm bummed out :(

civilian11214 · 6 months

I hope this gets better someday. We are all just people.

rottenjohnny · 6 months

Very cool! (Although I envisioned more flowers…)

TheBluePanda · 6 months

FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD:

CaptainYoshi · 6 months

Well, the point of the Army is mostly to kill people, not have sex with them.

PickledDreams · 6 months

SO GRAVE

expediance · 6 months

Wow, I've never seen this before.

Molassesfatts · 6 months

repost every month for front page :|

everydayimstudyin86 · 6 months

A beautifully stated summary of what is wrong with our country.

bob-leblaw · 6 months

Woke up, great mood. Read this, sad. Reddit.

CaptainFuzzyPickles · 6 months

“War is where the young and stupid are tricked by the old and bitter into killing each other.” - Niko Bellic

2AXP21 · 6 months

I feel awful but I giggled at "discharge".

IV-65536 · 6 months

Gay people in the military would actually be better. Wouldn't you fight 10x hard when someone you love is also risking their lives?

see: Sacred Band of Thebes

kaskrinj · 6 months

Hit me hard man..

rhinotoe · 6 months

This is a great picture. I have been lucky enough to see this grave stone in person in one of the cemeteries in D.C. If i recall correctly i believe one of our presidents who was homosexual is buried a couple plots down past this gay Vietnam war vet and he has his gay lover buried next to him. Pretty interesting stuff to learn what they don't teach in school.

BeastAP23 · 6 months

Quesstion, if it had been a male soldier having sex with as female would he havd been discgarged?

Female soldier that is

DroodEdwin · 6 months

I hope it wasn't one of the ones he killed

Almsivi · 6 months

Does anyone else fine it ironic that the military used to give gay men discharge for being gay? Hypocrites.

PhonyUsername · 6 months

Something that doesn't sit right with me about seeing politics/wars on gravestones.

biggiepants · 6 months

Passive aggressive gravestone.

anthony6627 · 6 months

666th comment I am satan

SomeAsianGuy · 6 months

When I was in reddit, they gave me an upvote for reposts and a downvote for an original one.

BettyMcBoob · 6 months

Wow. Any witty comment is just going to be lame

tomma101 · 6 months

you think he would be happy to receive a discharge,

gamerlen · 6 months

Rest in peace you fabulous soldier. -salutes-

Addicted2Qtips · 6 months

If you get a discharge after loving a man, you really should see a doctor and get some antibiotics.

Edit: ok it's serious time on reddit. My bad.

bowery_boy · 6 months

Id like to see the deceased dates of life. Don't ask dont tell and the discharge policy didn't exist until the mid 1990s. Prior to that there was not a real policy, my grandfather said that during ww2, you knew who the gays were in your unit, and you just didn't Stand next to them in the shower... That was all.

UnknownArchive · 6 months

Anyone seeking more info might also check here:

title	comnts	points	age	/r/
Not all theists are responsible for this, but all people responsible for this are theists.	200^coms	755^pts	3^mos	atheism
A gay Vietnam veteran	109^coms	761^pts	10^mos	pics

source: karmadecay

SpartaWillBurn · 6 months

A couple weeks ago, someone posted something about the Vietnam war and a soldier. The very first comment was "how we shouldn't have been there" and how " we were killing innocent soldiers" Now that this guy was gay, he is the bravest man ever. And everyone is praising him. Hypocrisy here is ridiculous.

Kottfoers · 6 months

Why would you post this in /r/funny for other reasons than to karma-whore?

vitriolicsight · 6 months

well said

Comics
/r/comics	/r/webcomics
/r/vertical	/r/f7u12
/r/ragenovels	/r/AdviceAtheists
Image macros	Screenshots/text
/r/lolcats	/r/screenshots
/r/AdviceAnimals	/r/desktops
/r/Demotivational	/r/facepalm (Facebook)
/r/reactiongifs	/r/DesktopDetective
Wallpaper	Animals
/r/wallpaper	/r/aww
/r/wallpapers	/r/cats
The SFWPorn Network	/r/TrollingAnimals
	/r/deadpets
	/r/birdpics
	/r/foxes
Photography	Un-moderated pics
/r/photography	/r/AnythingGoesPics
/r/photocritique	/r/images
/r/HDR
/r/windowshots
/r/PictureChallenge
Misc	New reddits
/r/misc	/r/britpics
/r/gifs	Imaginary Network
/r/dataisbeautiful	/r/thennnow
/r/picrequests	/r/SpecArt
	/r/LookWhoIMet
	/r/timelinecovers
	/r/MemesIRL
	/r/OldSchoolCool
	/r/photoshopbattles

pics

Looking for an image subreddit with minimal rules? Check out /r/images

Spoiler code

Rules

Links

MODERATORS

pics

Looking for an image subreddit with minimal rules? Check out /r/images

Spoiler code

Rules

Links

MODERATORS

you'll need to login or register to do that

create a new account

login