Leonard Matlovich Grave

In Congressional Cemetery, a black granite headstone bears no name. It reads: "A Gay Vietnam Veteran," and beneath it: "When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men, and a discharge for loving one." The grave belongs to Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich — Purple Heart, Bronze Star — who in 1975 became the public face of the fight against the military's gay ban when he appeared on the cover of Time under the headline "I Am a Homosexual." It was one of the most visible acts of coming out in American history. He fought his discharge through the courts for years, and died of AIDS complications on June 22, 1988, at 44. Matlovich designed the stone himself, deliberately nameless so it would stand for every gay and lesbian service member, and chose mirror-polished granite echoing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, with two pink triangles. His 1984 purchase of the plot — pointedly near J. Edgar Hoover's grave — seeded what has become known as the cemetery's 'gay corner,' the world's only intentional LGBT burial section, where activists and veterans have chosen to rest ever since. Wreath-layings and LGBTQ veteran commemorations happen here annually. Visiting: Congressional Cemetery's grounds are free and open daily 7am-7pm; the grave is at Range 20, Site 161N, a short walk from the 1801 E Street SE gate, and the cemetery publishes a self-guided LGBTQ+ walking tour that includes it. This is an active cemetery and a place of remembrance — visit accordingly.