In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Eric Alva, a disabled Iraq War veteran and member of the LGBT community, will deliver the keynote address tonight in the Walter Hall Rotunda.
Alva, who was raised Catholic, came out about his sexual orientation after serving 13 years in the military. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 19 years old and is a third-generation veteran. Alva was also the first American injured in the Iraq War, losing his leg in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His story has influenced others in the LGBT community to be open about their sexuality, a move that was initially difficult for Alva.
“By then, everyone knew my name and paid me homage,” said Alva. “People were even commending my parents for their son’s bravery, so I was fearful of how their friends would treat them and how my friends who I served with in Iraq would treat me.”
Alva said while he received some letters pushing hateful sentiments like, ‘I wish you would have died in Iraq,’ the majority of people were supportive.
Alva decided to speak out about his experience as a gay, Hispanic man after Texas’ Proposition 2, a ban on same-sex marriage, passed in 2005. A majority of Hispanic voters favored the legislation.
Alva’s involvement in the military as a gay man prompted him to be a large proponent of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. Not only has he faced discrimination for his Hispanic background during his life but also for his sexual orientation.
“I’ve been called a coconut for wearing cowboy boots — for being white on the inside and brown on the outside — and we can laugh about it, but in reality, it’s rude,” he said.
His work toward combating LGBT discrimination in the military helped overturn the previously held Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, and Alva was acknowledged for his lobbying after President Obama repealed the policy.
Winsome Chunnu, assistant director of multicultural programs, said that Alva was especially appealing because he can relate to a wide range of people.
Chunnu also added that the Multicultural Center and Black Student Cultural Programming Board aim to provide programs that help students from more homogenous backgrounds learn about different cultures in an open environment.
Alva added that at the end of the day, we are all one world of people.
“We have so much to offer each other, but I think sometimes our irrational fears get the best of us,” Alva said.
“I am not just Latino. I am gay, I am disabled and I am a veteran. I will never not share with people the beauty of my life.”
ef195109@ohiou.edu
