GLBT activist to give lecture

Eric Alva will address U.S. Army "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy

By: Teri Ruland

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: News

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Eric Alva, an Iraq War veteran and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender rights activist, will be presenting a lecture on the, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the Army as part of Coming Out Week.

He will be giving a presentation on the policy because of his personal experience in the Marine Corps. He was the first soldier to be severely injured in the Iraq War and the first to receive a Purple Heart award in the war.

"Repealing the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy so gay men and women can serve in the military freely without discrimination [is important]," Alva said.

He said that since GLBT rights have become so much a part of his life, he won't stop until what needs to be done is done.

"I think he feels passionately [about 'don't ask, don't tell'] because he served his country for 13 years and sacrificed for his country, and had to do so under a veil of secrecy because the don't ask don't tell policy forces an individual to lie about their personal life," said Lowell Kane, program coordinator of the GLBT Resource Center.

Coming Out Week events
7 p.m. Thursday in Rudder 601
Keynote Speaker Eric Alva will present "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

7 p.m. Friday in Memorial Student Center 206
Coming Out Stories

Monday - Friday The GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) Resource Center will have resource tables in Rudder Plaza

Additional information is available online at http://glbt.tamu.edu/

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Honored...

posted 10/09/08 @ 12:46 AM CST

Wow...I just looked up information about Eric Alva online, and we are very lucky to have such a distinguished speaker visit Aggieland. Considering A&Ms military history, I think it is awesome to learn more about this subject from an expert who has served and was injured to protect all of us. (Continued…)

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Chuck

posted 10/09/08 @ 9:45 AM CST

It would have been nice if you had written why this cat feels "repealing the 'don't ask, don't tell policy so gay men and women can serve in the military freely without discrimination is important". (Continued…)

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Follow up...

posted 10/09/08 @ 11:52 AM CST

Let's look at facts that are a bit more up to date than quoting "data" from the 1950s and 1960s (let's not forget that studies from that time period also justified reasons for keeping Black citizens away from White citizens, preventing interracial couples from marrying, etc). (Continued…)

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Teddy

posted 10/09/08 @ 2:03 PM CST

I am a veteran, I believe that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy is discriminatory, and it should be repealed. To suggest that gays and lesbians could not openly serve in the military without soldiers and marines "not tolerating" them and to suggest that they would be in danger is call into question the professionalism of our military members. (Continued…)

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TB2011

posted 10/09/08 @ 2:06 PM CST

Ames,

While I haven't looked enough at the issue and do not take a position for or against "don't ask don't tell," War is no place for political correctness. (Continued…)

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Pepe Johnson

posted 10/09/08 @ 7:03 PM CST

Interesting comments, Chuck. I'd like to respond.

1.) Eric Alva was a Marine - Marines are sometimes referred to as "devil dogs," so he certainly isn't some "cat. (Continued…)

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Charles

posted 10/09/08 @ 9:57 PM CST

Staff Sgt. Alva is to be commended for his loyal service to our country and for his continued activism on behalf of a minority that deserves the same basic freedoms we as Americans all share the responsibility of upholding. (Continued…)

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Melody

posted 10/10/08 @ 12:03 AM CST

LGBT people in England, Belgium, Canada, Spain and the Netherlands all have equal rights, including marriage. Society has managed to accept it and adapt. (Continued…)

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obviously a civlian

posted 10/10/08 @ 2:30 PM CST

Wouldn't it be better to have a homo in the foxhole, cuz he'd be defending with all his might those he finds sexually attractive. I know I would give everything I got to save a girl I want to nail from danger. (Continued…)

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ANON

posted 10/11/08 @ 11:22 AM CST

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor HOMOSEXUAL OFFENDERS nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (Continued…)

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