Often in the history of war, we forget those who fought it. We remember names of people and days they died, but it often slips our mind that they were people. They had families. They had mothers. They had lives outside of death. Too many people forget that. People also seem keen on forgetting that fight is not all soldiers do. Soldiers love. In 1975, one such soldier was discharged for doing so.
In detail, Leonard P. Matlovich, a Vietnam war veteran was a unique case, as he was the first to purposefully out himself in the name of fighting the anti-gay discrimination laws in the air force. Matlovich’s father found out about the time it was highly publicized. He told Matlovich’s mother the following: “if he can take it, I can take it.” Leonard …show more content…
When asked what it meant, Matlovich replied, “it means Brown versus the Board of Education.” His case was taken up by an air force attorney. At the time, the force had very vague laws detailing extenuating circumstances which would allow a gay soldier to continue serving. Among these was the so-called “Queen for a Day” rule, which stated that if the proposed charges were a one time experimentation, the case would be dropped and the soldier would stay in the force. In an effort to try and take advantage of this rule, the attorney asked Matlovich to sign a paper which would prevent him from practicing homosexuality at any future date. Matlovich, however, refused and was deemed unfit for service. He was given an honorable discharge, taking into account his exemplary service record, in 1975. He immediately sued for reinstatement, but it was a long legal process. By September 1980, the force had yet to give an explanation of why Matlovich didn’t meet its criteria for exception, which had already been eliminated by 1980, and the District Court Judge ordered Matlovich reinstated. The air force countered this by offering a financial settlement instead. Matlovich believed that any reinstatement would lead to the force trying to discharge him again, and took the settlement. The figure, taking into account back pay, future pay, and pension, wound up being
In detail, Leonard P. Matlovich, a Vietnam war veteran was a unique case, as he was the first to purposefully out himself in the name of fighting the anti-gay discrimination laws in the air force. Matlovich’s father found out about the time it was highly publicized. He told Matlovich’s mother the following: “if he can take it, I can take it.” Leonard …show more content…
When asked what it meant, Matlovich replied, “it means Brown versus the Board of Education.” His case was taken up by an air force attorney. At the time, the force had very vague laws detailing extenuating circumstances which would allow a gay soldier to continue serving. Among these was the so-called “Queen for a Day” rule, which stated that if the proposed charges were a one time experimentation, the case would be dropped and the soldier would stay in the force. In an effort to try and take advantage of this rule, the attorney asked Matlovich to sign a paper which would prevent him from practicing homosexuality at any future date. Matlovich, however, refused and was deemed unfit for service. He was given an honorable discharge, taking into account his exemplary service record, in 1975. He immediately sued for reinstatement, but it was a long legal process. By September 1980, the force had yet to give an explanation of why Matlovich didn’t meet its criteria for exception, which had already been eliminated by 1980, and the District Court Judge ordered Matlovich reinstated. The air force countered this by offering a financial settlement instead. Matlovich believed that any reinstatement would lead to the force trying to discharge him again, and took the settlement. The figure, taking into account back pay, future pay, and pension, wound up being