Gay combat vet who lost leg in Iraq booed by anti-gay protesters in San Antonio

[sheshe2]

SAN ANTONIO — A highly decorated openly gay Iraq war combat veteran was booed by a crowd of anti-gay protesters during his speech to the San Antonio City Council meeting Wednesday evening.


Eric Alva
Former Marine Staff Sergeant Eric Alva — a San Antonio native who was the first American service member seriously injured in the Iraq War when he stepped on a land mine in March 2003 and lost his right leg — was speaking in favor of a proposed addition to the city’s non-discrimination law that would add protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran status.

But as Alva began to deliver his remarks, many in the crowd of approximately 200 people attending the council meeting began to boo.

“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 told the crowd as left the podium, still visibly shaken from the crowd’s reaction.

MORE
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2013/08/disabled-iraq-combat-veteran-booed-by-anti-gay-protesters-in-san-antonio/

Unbelievably ignorant people in this world, they are beneath contempt!

To Former Marine Staff Sergeant Eric Alva. An American Hero. And yes God loves him!

[DisgustipatedinCA]

2. They booed him because of who he is, and not because of what he said

You're being deliberately obtuse. Someone else can welcome you to DU.

[sheshe2]

3. They did not argue with him.

They booed him! And no, I doubt that he Eric Alva would agree with you. The article states that he was visibly shaken by the ordeal.

[trumad]

5. Jesus Christ on a Trailer Hitch...

really? That's your takeaway from this?

[dionysus]

24. obvious troll is obvious, eh?

you should see it's other posts...

[sheshe2]

26. I made a point of checking them out myself.

Not very subtle. Have you seen it's OP?

[dballance]

68. Looks like Otto got 'em

Name and messages auto removed. That Otto is good

[chillfactor]

6. you really need to get your thinking cap on....

or put the bottle away.....they booed him because he is gay.....got it now or do we need to draw you a picture? good grief!

[arcane1]

12. Freedom of speech means we are free to call them assholes for booing.

It's simple, really.

[arcane1]

15. Then that makes two of us.

[Scuba]

18. MMMmmmmmmm. Pizza.

[dionysus]

25. i like pepperoni and bacon, you?

[MattBaggins]

30. sopressata and wine cured black olives, fresh basil and some asiago shavings

to make it really good use a sour dough crust

[dionysus]

31. major points for sopressata and asiago.. but please pick the olives off my slice

[EOTE]

82. Lemme guess.

Another one of those "You can't insult racist assholes for being racist assholes, what about free speech?" troll?

[arcane1]

85. Pretty much. "They could be booing for some other reason, and we have to respect that"

[HangOnKids]

16. Maybe you should go back to bed

You know to get that outthinking thingy going.

[backscatter712]

34. I think he's going back to the DU account registration page to make another sockpuppet! n/t

[hrmjustin]

35. We will be ready at mirt for him.

[HangOnKids]

54. He Was SOOOO Good And Could Outhink DU

How did that happen?

[arcane1]

10. Boo!

[Texasgal]

19. I disgree strongly

and utilize my right to say you are fucked up.

How's that?

Oh, and BOOOOO.

[burnodo]

22. So someone could boo Obama and you wouldn't have a problem with that?

[sheshe2]

36. Ding Dong!

They are gone.

Boom!

Thank Gawd.

[Arcanetrance]

17. These are probably the same people who have support the troops stuff all over and display

faux patriotism at every chance. But when it comes down to it they don't support the troops. The guy fought and massively injured. Only to come back to a country where he can't get equal treatment.

[lunasun]

53. ................have support the troops stuff all over

oh i already assume they intend that for troops who only are exactly like them and think, look, love and believe like them.

Amputee Gay Latino purple heart who served 13 ys ? boo to that guy regardless of service or sacrifice to country
Hate trumps Support in their book I bet

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. It is not what he did

it is what HE IS.

Enjoy your stay.

[sheshe2]

29. Thanks nadin.

If you can see this, thanks.

[hrmjustin]

37. He is gone.

[sheshe2]

40. Yes he is~

He was served...



Sweet, hrmjustin!

Thank you Skinner!

[hrmjustin]

41. The jury results were infuriating and we were in the middle of the vote in MIrt when we got the

great news from skinner.

Thank you skinner.

[sheshe2]

46. Thank you MIRT!

Thank you Skinner. Justice was served.

[steve2470]

21. important part here you might have missed....

as Alva began to deliver his remarks, many in the crowd of approximately 200 people attending the council meeting began to boo.

To me, that implies they were booing who he is and not the content of his remarks. They were booing immediately, instead of waiting to hear him out somewhat. I'm thinking the crowd knew upfront he was a gay vet and that was the only reason they booed.

Boo to you too, sir.

[arcane1]

27. Oh, I'm sure they were booing the content of his remarks too!

He was "speaking in favor of a proposed addition to the city’s non-discrimination law that would add protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran status."

I agree with the pizza enthusiast that they had every right to boo him, but it takes supreme dishonesty to suggest they were booing for some nebulous, unknowable reason.

[steve2470]

28. yes you're correct nt

[dionysus]

23. sure he would, troll.

[hobbit709]

32. I'm a vet too and I think you are full of taurine metabolic byproducts.

[HangOnKids]

33. He already bit the dust

I am crushed!

[hobbit709]

61. It was still squawking when I posted.

He got MIRTed about 20 minutes later.

[dhol82]

4. If I had been there

I would have asked those in the crowd why they had not served in Iraq if they felt so strongly about it and why they dissed someone who had been injured while in the line of duty.

Bunch of creeps who can't make a distinction between their narrow view of morality and actually serving and being injured while in the military.

Pathetic.

[Snake Plissken]

38. If I had been there

I would have asked them how many Ted Nugent 8-Track Tapes do they collectively own.

Because they seem to all be cut from the same mold ... blowhard cowards.

[Berlum]

62. Republican Chickenhawks have established a long trail of shame

I'd bet a sack of doughnuts that most of the boobirds in this mob were Republican Chickenhawks.

As usual.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. Now you know the truth about the reason behind the conservative's backing of veterans.

It's to promote their artificial merit system. The fact that only some veterans are worthy, and others are not is proof that it's yet another way for them to put themselves at the front of the line.

[lolly]

75. "Veteran" shorthand for "Right Wing like me" to them

They identify so strongly with the militaristic version of "patriotism" that they see service members as extensions of their own egos.

When one doesn't fit the mold, they become irrationally angry. A liberal or gay service member threatens their whole belief system.

[Baitball Blogger]

77. It's a filtering system that ensures they remain at the top.

[William769]

39. The more strides the LGBT community makes

The more push back it seems we get from certain groups of people.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. For the same exact reason other minorities get pushback

A very scared part, that is a very loud minority within the majority.

[sheshe2]

43. It's sad William.

However we are pushing them back too.

And damn it we will all move forward together.

[William769]

44. Not from some posts I have seen lately on DU.

It's freeperville at times (this is in no way directed at you. Your one of the good one's).

[sheshe2]

48. I know that you did not direct that at me, William.

We will just have to Stand Together. We are so much stronger that way. We always will be.

[hrmjustin]

47. It is very sad that stuff like this happens.

[suffragette]

45. Utterly despicable behavior by all who booed

I support Eric Alva.

[KamaAina]

49. Way to support the troops

assholes.

[Behind the Aegis]

50. Hero

Queer History: 1st US Marine injured in Iraq denounces DADT

The first U.S. Marine injured while fighting in Iraq came out as an openly gay man who denounced the military’s policy of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” that bans gays from serving in uniform.

Marine Staff Sgt Eric Alva, who was sworn into the Marine Corps at 19, stationed in Somalia and Japan and lost his right leg when he stepped on a land mine on March 21, 2003, the first day of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Alva was awarded a Purple Heart from President George W. Bush and received a medical discharge from the military.

But in 2007, Alva decided it was time the world knew that the war hero who was being honored for his service to his country also happens to be a gay man. He called for the end of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forces people such as himself out of active duty simply because they choose not to live a lie.

Alva’s decision to come out and speak out fell on the same date that about President Bill Clinton signed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” into law in the misguided hope that our military leaders would eventually back off of their opposition against gays serving openly. The policy rapidly became the mechanism used to persecute gays and the start of many internal witch hunts.

more: http://www.pridedepot.com/?p=739079

[SunSeeker]

57. How could anyone look at that man and boo him?! nt

[Rstrstx]

51. Republican councilwoman caught on tape about the ordinance

Basically coaching her how to respond when she votes against the ordinance

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/news_columnists/brian_chasnoff/article/Elisa-Chan-s-intolerant-views-toward-gays-heard-4736543.php

This is on the front page of the SA news' website, doesn't make her look good at all. FWIW I did hear them concede the ordinance will probably pass.

[Egnever]

52. Sickening

but not at all surprising.

[Zoeisright]

55. They must have learned that repulsive behavior

in church.

[RKP5637]

70. Some churches are nothing more than cult hate centers. n/t

[SunSeeker]

56. If there is a hell, those who booed will roast in it. nt

[Ilsa]

58. I wonder if it's Pastor Hagee's church

protesting the protections. I don't recall him doing an about-face on this issue.

[Gruenemann]

73. Actually, Hagee supports it

He did an about-face when they changed the wording. I'm still stunned

[blkmusclmachine]

59. Typical GOPee, booing soldiers at home.

[pinboy3niner]

60. No surprise here

Decades ago I had conservatives tell me I "deserved what happened" to me in Vietnam after I told them about being seriously wounded--and then expressed my antiwar views. I wasn't THEIR kind of veteran.

A friend, another VN vet, went through hell as a San Francisco cop when it was discovered that he was being treated for PTSD and *GASP* he was gay. The city council backed him up and he kept his job briefly--until he was driven out by antigay harassment from his "brothers in blue." Randy, who had done three tours in VN as a Marine, most of that time as an Infantry squad leader, eventually died of AIDS much later.

Kudos to Eric Alva and R.I.P., Randy.

[TNNurse]

63. OK

I missed the post that was deleted and I am pretty sure that I am glad that I did.

These people are just like the Westboro "Church" (it should not be allowed to call itself that). They do things in the the name of God which are hate-filled, bigoted and criminal and have nothing to do with the teaching of the Christian religion.

I know we have the right to free speech, but we also have the right to disagree with the free speech of others and point out their evil ways whenever we can.

[hamsterjill]

64. I live in San Antonio and this is absolutely shameful!

The group who booed is run by an idiot Pastor who acts like he's a satellite of Westboro Baptist! Real "Christian" behavior, isn't it? (And I am a Christian). These people make me sick. I don't care whether they agreed with Staff Sergeant Alva or not. They owe him respect for the fact that he served his country if for no other reason.

But it doesn't end there! In the local paper this morning, there is an article where a city council woman was caught on tape ranting about how she doesn't believe in equality for everyone.

Article is at this link:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/news_columnists/brian_chasnoff/article/Chan-reveals-homophobic-views-in-secret-recording-4736543.php

We live in a screwed up world! I am a flaming heterosexual and I simply do not understand why some people are so threatened when someone else chooses to live his/her life differently. With all of the problems we have in this world, I'll take love over hate any day of the week!

[noiretextatique]

66. i have an especial dislike for bigots of color

because they should have some knowledge of what discrimination feels like.

[Rozlee]

79. Tell that to my teabagger sister.

We're a large Hispanic family and she's our resident Republican. She started out being pretty liberal except for her views on abortion. Then, she began meeting radical right-wing groups in her demonstrations and getting e-mails from them and watching Faux Spews. She's upset about the way immigrants are treated, but turns it around and says it's Democrats that are the ones at fault. She seems to live in a bubble where she filters the information she wants to hear and what she doesn't and assigns blame to Democrats that are blatantly the fault of Republicans. She talks about Islamofascists and totally hates Arabs now when before, she was distressed that we were being sent to war to kill innocent people in the Middle East. It's like she's in a cult and totally divorced from reality. Sometimes, I'm afraid to confront her with facts. I'm afraid smoke will come out of her ears and she'll start saying in a robotic voice, "It does not compute," and blow up.

[Rozlee]

78. I moved away from San Antonio to get away from idiots like them.

*groan* And into the Hill Country where everybody is even more bigoted and assholey. It's just Texas. I've seen the type of people who go to those city council meetings. Liberals are very underrepresented in them. Even though San Antonio is a minority-majority city, with the median age of 32, it's mostly non-Hispanic whites over 56 that attend those meetings and they trend conservative. Even my sister, that lives in the cusp of the 2-3 Council District, which is predominately Hispanic, tells me that their meeting regulars are older Anglos. Until we liberals get more activist, we're going to be drowned out by these conservatives. They're militant and know the power structure.

[hamsterjill]

83. You're absolutely right.

And I'm sorry that you moved away because of it. We could sure benefit from people like you at these meetings, etc.

I totally agree that liberals in Texas (and specifically San Antonio) have got to organize better, be more vocal, and present a more united and unified front politically.

The conservatives are militant and they do know (and benefit from) the power structure.

[mike dub]

65. mmBut But But...

my family just took a great vacation at San Antonio and Sea World, and our National Anthem was played each morning after the park opened. You mean some "patriotic" Americans who rightly stand at attention during the Star Spangled Banner would then turn around and later boo a Marine / war hero just because he's gay? Say it ain't so. (sarcasm)

[DissidentVoice]

67. A veteran is a veteran is a veteran

I didn't see combat in the USAF, so I hold troops like SSgt Alva in special esteem.

As "Mr Conservative" (and retired USAF Reserve Major General) Barry Goldwater put it:

"I don't care if you ARE straight, just as long as you can SHOOT straight!"

[LostOne4Ever]

69. Even if he wasn't a veteran

This is disgusting.

The fact that he sacrificed a leg for these bigots only makes it that much more distasteful.

[damnedifIknow]

71. Gay or not who cares?

This man went over there and paid a terrible price while these things that booed him sat their asses on the couch and ate popcorn. They are worthless and their opinion is laughable.

[Initech]

72. Stay classy protestors.

[Loki]

74. Hatred is a Republican/Tea Party family value.

This should preface anything we say about this entity until it is no more.

[merrily]

76. Disgusting. Remember, though, there are paid people at many events.

Still, I would not have booed this guy (meaning, I would not have booed him even if I had been paid to do so).

I have to say, though, that I don't like his remark about God saving him because God loved him. There are many deceased warriors from all over the world. Are we to conclude that they died on a battlefield because God did not love them, or he would have saved them?

[blackspade]

80. Shameful.

[thablueprint.]

81. Not surprising

It is Texas. The same place where a person like Rick perry is governor. There is nothing here that we shouldn't expect.

[kentauros]

84. You have NO idea what you're talking about.

Other than the usual DU Anti-Texas hyperbole. Do some research before you hit the keys in reply.