A PROU Story by MC1 Jaq Renard & Photos by MC2 Zachery Anderson
G
ay Pride. For so many Americans serving in the United States Armed Forces today, it means much more than just identifying as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. For service members, it means to serve openly and proud, without the fearful silence of having to decide whether being with their beloved openly or their call to duty.
History recognizes the 1969 Stonewall Inn riots in New York as the beginning of the LGBTQ movement. However, for over 2 centuries military service members, government officials and employees have long fought an arduous battle, from the hearts and minds of men up through the highest court in our democracy, to obtain fair and equal rights and the freedom to love whomever they please. Yet, so many LBGTQ Americans remained quiet and distant themselves from their friends and colleagues for fear of unjust treatments. In 1919, The U.S. Navy, ordered by Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, launched an undercover sting operation “Vice and Depravity” aimed at seducing Sailors suspected of being homosexual. At least 17 Sailors were jailed and court-martialed before public outcry prompted the Senate to condemn the operation. Lt. Gotthold Frederick Enslin was the first documented Solider in 1778, serving in the Continental Army to have been relieved and discharge from service due to his homosexual proclivity. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard P. Matlovich a decorated Vietnam Veteran was discharge from service in 1975 after declaring his sexuality on the cover of Time magazine and Air Force Staff Sgt. Anthony Loverde was one of many 13,000 members of the armed services to be discharged under President Bill Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy. Before the DADT policy was repealed, some young Americans held a secret for hope and chance to one day join the U. S. Armed Forces. For Ensign Matthew Derden, amphibious assault ship USS Bataan’s (LHD 5), electronics maintenance officer, his personal discloser was retracted and remained tightlipped until he was ready to share that information about his life. “I came out of the closet when I was 14 years-old. I went back into it in 2008 when I was 22 years-old [to enlist in the Navy],” said Derden. “Don’t tell anyone who you are, really means don’t let anyone find out,” Derden exclaimed. “I witnessed a Sailor get discharged after being outed for the first time while I was in ‘A’ School at Great Lakes. He left a flier from some gay club in his trash and his roommates turned him in. That’s when I realized that discrimination wasn’t only tolerated against gays, it was a requirement.” Despite the DADT policy, Derden loved the opportunities the Navy provided. He worked really hard at his craft and excelled up through the ranks. Like
6 | We Are The Battling Bastards of Bataan