Gay US Marine Corps Veteran Who Lost Leg In Iraq Is Booed By Anti-LGBT Crowd In Texas
Eric Alva tells crowd: 'Shame on you because God loves me'
By Greg Hernandez
August 16, 2013
U.S. Marine Corps veteran and openly gay man Eric Alva was booed by anti-LGBT protesters at a San Antonio City Council meeting this week when he spoke out in favor of extending the city's nondiscrimination law.
It was 10 years ago in March that Alva became the first US Marine to be injured in the Iraq War when he stepped on a land mine and lost his right leg.
He did not take the disrespect lightly and said from the podium: 'To all you people that preach the word of God, shame on you because God loves me, like the day I laid bleeding on the sands of Iraq and that’s why he saved me.'
Alva lives in San Antonio was at the meeting this week to testify in support of extending the city’s nondiscrimination law to include sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and veteran status.
Local pastors against the additions to the law held a prayer vigil outside the council chambers, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Alva served in the military for 13 years, including postings in Okinawa and Somalia, all during the era of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
He was visited by then-president George W. Bush in the hospital where he was recovering from his injuries. It was later that he came out publicly as a gay man.
Alva has since become an LGBT activist and spoke out for years against DADT until it was officially repealed two years ago.
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"To all you people who claim tothatpreach the word of God, shame on you because God loves me, like the day I laid bleeding on the sands of Iraq and that’s why he saved me..."
"Fear Eats the Soul"
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