Leonard Matlovich Grave, LGBTQ+ heritage site in Washington DC
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Leonard Matlovich Grave

Google (102) 4.7
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Address
Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

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About this place Leonard Matlovich Grave

In Congressional Cemetery, a black granite headstone with no name reads 'A Gay Vietnam Veteran' and, below it, 'When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.' It marks the grave of Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, who appeared on the cover of Time in 1975 under the headline 'I Am a Homosexual' while fighting his discharge from the Air Force. He died of AIDS-related illness in 1988, aged 44. Matlovich designed the stone himself and left it nameless to stand for all gay service members. The cemetery is in southeast DC near the Anacostia River, and other LGBTQ+ graves are close by.

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Google Reviews

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4.7
★★★★★
102 reviews

Based on 102 Google reviews.

drapen & Jul 2026
★★★★★

I took the introductory tour, very informative. It’s a beautiful place full of DC history.

Dave Harlan Jul 2026
★★★☆☆

I like cemeteries and have visited many. This one is lovely with a good location, lots of interesting monuments, and good paths and infrastructure. Unfortunately, it’s not being well maintained. I spotted lots of tumbled headstones, the grass needed mowing, and foot traffic is wearing paths that should probably be made permanent. I think the neglect is recent and can hopefully be corrected soon.

Susan Jun 2026
★★★★★

Working with Congressional Cemetery’s -newer management - was a dream. Just bought an 8-person (cremation) plot in the more affordable section and working with Lisa was so easy. This cemetery is historic - and “alive” with activities bringing the community together. Highly rec if you are considering purchasing a plot.

Lauryn Franzoni May 2026
★★★★★
Svetlana Ko May 2026
★★★★★

It's more of a park than a cemetery. There are dog passes. Inside, there are plenty of benches and water stations, as well as stands for dog owners with bags. It's a quiet, peaceful place, and when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, there are no crowds. They bloom here two weeks later than on the National Mall.

Tony A. Mar 2026
★★★★★

Great hidden gem for locals to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It's also an amazing dog park as well oddly enough. There is a fee to bring your dog at a daily rate or you can get a seasonal pass which is much more cost effective. The funds go to help preserve this area which had gone through an extended period of neglect and is now returned to be a wonderful place to visit. Highly recommend coming during the cherry blossoms or on a nice sunny day. Almost forgot to mention that President Herbert Hoover is here as well.

Gabriella Indigo Mar 2026
★★★★★

Love coming here with my pup and have a peaceful stroll.

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Last updated on 14 November 2026

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