Leonard Matlovich - Place of Birth, Date of Birth, Age, Wiki, Facts, Net Worth, Birthday, Biography and Family

Leonard Matlovich, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Family, Facts, Age, Net Worth, Biography and More in FamedBorn.com


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Jul 06, 1943 Savannah, Georgia, United States Died on 22 Jun 1988 (aged 44)

Recipient of the Purple Heart medal

Cancer

About Leonard Matlovich

  • Technical Sergeant Leonard Philip Matlovich (July 6, 1943 – June 22, 1988) was a Vietnam War veteran, race relations instructor, and recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.Matlovich 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 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.
  • Matlovich was the first named openly gay person to appear on the cover of a U.S.
  • newsmagazine.
  • 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." In October 2006, Matlovich was honored by LGBT History Month as a leader in the history of the LGBT community.

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