The Campus Wire

LGBT Speaker Eric Alva Testifies to Congress on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy

July 25, 2008

Iraq veteran and LGBT rights activist Eric Alva testified Wednesday, July 23rd, in the House Armed Services Committee’s hearings on the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law. This was the first time Congress has considered the rule since it was implemented 15 years ago. Alva, a gay 13-year Marine veteran and the first American service member wounded in the Iraq war, spoke against the current law, arguing that unit cohesion would not be hurt if homosexuals served openly.

LGBT Speaker Eric Alva, represented by Keppler Speakers bureau
“My being gay, and even many of my colleagues knowing about it, didn’t damage unit cohesion,” Alva said. “They still put their lives in my hands, and when I was injured, they risked those lives to save mine.”

Eric Alva is a gay rights activist and spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, where he speaks out nationally about the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. He also talks about the obstacles he overcome learning to walk with a prosthetic leg, his experiences in the armed forces, and the military’s traditions that help individuals become stronger.

For more information on scheduling keynote speaker Eric Alva for your next event, contact us at Keppler Speakers bureau.



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