Eric Alva shares story of being gay, a Marine, and changing history
He was the first American injured in the Iraq War, hit by an exploding land mine that broke his left leg, caused long-term nerve damage in his right hand, and so severely impacted his right leg that it had to be amputated to save his life. He had been in Iraq for only three hours. While those injuries were severe, they were not the only things tormenting Marine Eric Alva while he served his country. As a gay man, had his sexuality been known, he would have been discharged from the Marines. Alva was the final of three speakers for the academic year’s last Faculty of Arts and Sciences Diversity Dialogues, “Overcoming Obstacles: Managing Complex Intersectionality.” “It’s an interesting story, the intersectionality of my life,” said the retired staff sergeant. “I am a gay man. I am a United States Marine. … I am also disabled and I am also Hispanic.” Alva decided he...