Leonard Matlovich was a highly decorated U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant and Vietnam War veteran who became a landmark figure in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. In 1975, he became the first active-duty service member to purposely out himself to the military to challenge its ban on gay personnel. Later that year, he became the first openly gay person to ever be featured on the cover of TIME magazine, under the headline "I Am a Homosexual". Military Career and Coming Out Matlovich served three tours of duty in the Vietnam War and was a race relations instructor for the military. He earned both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his bravery. Despite his exemplary record, he realized the injustice faced by closeted service members. Alongside gay rights activist Frank Kameny, Matlovich handed a letter to his commanding officer in March 1975 formally declaring his sexual orientation. He chose to fight the system from the inside rather than resign quietly. The Legal Battle The Air Force offered him a deal: sign a pledge promising never to practice homosexuality again, and he could keep his job. Matlovich refused, and the military handed him a general discharge. He sued for reinstatement, launching a high-profile legal battle. In 1980, a federal judge ruled his discharge unlawful and ordered the Air Force to reinstate him with back pay. Matlovich eventually accepted a financial settlement instead of returning to service, dedicating the rest of his life to gay rights advocacy and raising awareness during the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Death and Legacy Matlovich died of complications from AIDS in 1988 at the age of 44. He was buried with full military honors at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.. He chose not to put his name on his tombstone. Instead, the marker features two pink triangles and a famous, powerful epitaph that he wrote himself: "When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one." His gravesite effectively created a dedicated LGBTQ+ section at the cemetery—now known as the "Gay Corner"—where many subsequent activists and veterans chose to be buried near him. #lgbtqhistory #militaryhistory #veterans #fyp #civilrights @The White House @50501 Vets - @alisayabraham