Gay marines
Babylon was developed from my Iraq War journals and parts of letters written from Iraq. At the time I was making those journal entries, I probably would have told you I was writing mostly so that if I was killed over there, my loved ones could have some thought of what I was going through. Now I know that I was more likely writing to some future version of myself.
My time in Iraq was the most intensely spiritual time of my life. Sometimes, after a sleepless night on duty, I would stare into the rising sun and feel like the secrets of the ages had been whispered to me. No matter what the politics and the existence of the American intervention in Iraq, I felt that when I took the face of an Iraqi child into my hands and we looked into each other’s eyes, that child could observe my deepest intention: that I had come to this country with an intense desire to support its people. I had heard the stories of Saddam Hussein’s brutality from the Iraqis themselves, and I believed them. But even as I witnessed kindness toward the Iraqis by some of my fellow Marines, I watched brokenhearted as the government, the military and the infrastructure of the territory were destroyed. The sickening
In honor of Veterans Diurnal on Nov. 11, I thought I’d tell you about a time in February 2012 when I was walking towards my vehicle in the frigid cold of winter in Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. A Marine with a reproduce of the Military Times pushed the cover into my face. It depicted a male Marine’s homecoming kiss with his loved one. “See!” he said, “Hawaii Marines are fags!”
I was a Marine stationed in Hawaii, attached to CLB-4, a unit based out of Okinawa, Japan. Even though my colleague was making a joke, my stomach dropped because throughout my enlistment and up until the repeal of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, I was forced to keep my sexuality buried deep in my heart for dread of being dishonorably discharged.
After seeing that image, I gained courage — enough courage at that moment to tell my brother in arms. I mind for certain I could disclose this to my battle buddy, and so I tried. In the front of a 7-ton military vehicle, I looked to my driver, someone I’d grown very shut to, and said, “Marco, I think I’m gay.” He said, “What perform you mean? Like you look at gay porn or you’ve actually fucked a dude?” His disgusted tone said more than his words. “No Marco, I am gay. I l
Marines respond to anti-gay posts after recognizing Pride Month: ‘Have a meritorious day!’
Every June, the LGBTQ+ people and allies celebrate what has become "Pride Month."
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - The Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina is getting much attention over the way Marines are responding to those who opposed the depot’s Facebook post acknowledging Pride Month.
"During the month of June, the Marine Corps takes #Pride in recognizing and honoring the contributions of our LGBTQ service members," the depot posted on Facebook on June 1. "We last committed to fostering an environment free from discrimination, and defend the beliefs of treating all equally, with dignity and respect."
The post has received more than 2,000 likes, 480 shares and nearly 2,000 comments — but not all were supportive.
"Seems today sir in this politically correct society anybody can join my beloved Corps, men that like men, women who like women," one user commented.
RELATED: UMC pastor files lawsuit after being accused of ‘practicing homosexuality’
"How does someone&#
Gay Marine helps alter history
He was the first American injured in the Iraq War, hit by an exploding land mine that broke his left leg, caused long-term nerve damage in his right hand, and so severely impacted his right leg that it had to be amputated to conserve his life. He had been in Iraq for only three hours.
While those injuries were severe, they were not the only things tormenting Marine Eric Alva while he served his country. As a gay man, had his sexuality been known, he would have been discharged from the Marines.
Alva was the final of three speakers for the academic year’s last Faculty of Arts and Sciences Diversity Dialogues, “Overcoming Obstacles: Managing Complex Intersectionality.”
“It’s an engaging story, the intersectionality of my life,” said the retired staff sergeant. “I am a gay guy. I am a Merged States Marine. … I am also disabled and I am also Hispanic.”
Alva decided he wanted to join the Marines while he was still in high school. After graduation, he went to the local recruiters’ office. At 5-foot-1 and only 90 pounds, he said the Marine recruiters “laughed at me and told me ‘the Air Force is down the hall.’” That was frustrating, he admitted, “
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