Leonard Matlovich was a decorated Vietnam War veteran with a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He was also the first gay American service member to purposely out himself to the military in order to fight their ban on gay people. However, despite his impeccable record, the United States Air Force discharged him after he came out to his officers. Undeterred, Matlovich became a fierce advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ community. In 1975, he was featured on the cover of "TIME" magazine, making him a symbol for gay service members and gay Americans as a whole. When Matlovich passed away in 1988 from HIV/AIDS complications, his headstone was inscribed with the following words: "When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one."
