AVER - American Veterans for Equal Rights, Inc.

07/08/2026

. 🇺🇸 Honoring Legacy through Visibility and Action 🏳️‍🌈 On June 20th, American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) proudly stood alongside SPARTA Transgender Veterans to march with a joint Color Guard. We were deeply honored to have Retired Major General Tammy Smith—the first openly LGBTQIA+ General Officer in the U.S. Army—lead the formation while carrying the United States Flag. Visibility is a cornerstone of advocacy. By showing up, we remind the nation of the profound contributions of LGBTQIA+ service members. AVER will never cease fighting for the equal rights, dignity, and respect our veterans have rightfully earned. A sincere thank you to the exceptional volunteers from our Lone Star Texas, Chicago, and New Mexico chapters, as well as our partners at SPARTA, for making this event a success. We are here, we are visible, and we stand united.

07/06/2026

July 6 is the birthday of one of the most prominent gay men in LGBT history, USAF Technical Sergeant Leonard P. Matlovich. Along with Harvey Milk, Matlovich was one of the best-known gay people in America in the 1970s.

Matlovich was a Vietnam War veteran, military race relations instructor, and recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He was the first gay service member to purposely out himself to the military to fight their ban on LGBT people.

His fight to stay in the United States Air Force after coming out became a high profile cause around which the gay community rallied. His case resulted in articles in newspapers and magazines throughout the country, numerous television interviews, and a television movie on NBC. His photograph appeared on the cover of the September 8, 1975, issue of Time magazine, making him the first openly gay person to appear on the cover of a U.S. newsmagazine. According to author Randy Shilts, "It marked the first time the young gay movement had made the cover of a major newsweekly. To a movement still struggling for legitimacy, the event was a major turning point."

Matlovich eventually settled with the Air Force, but his case would be one of the most important in eventually overturning the ban on Le***an, Gay, and Bisexual service members.

Matlovich remained a champion of LGBT issues and later became an AIDS activist when that pandemic began to decimate the gay community. On June 22, 1988, less than a month before his 45th birthday, Matlovich died in Los Angeles of complications from HIV/AIDS. His tombstone, meant to be a memorial to all gay veterans, does not bear his name. It reads, "When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one."

We remember your birthday today, Leonard Matlovich, and thank you for your service to our country. You are a great champion of change.

In a year when Transgender service members have been denied the right to serve, Leonard Matlovich should be a source of hope. He also lost his right to wear the uniform. But his battle helped win the war. Matlovich's service and sacrifice are a great inspiration to those of us who continue the fight for Transgender service.

07/04/2026

Major General Tammy Smith, USA (ret) was the first open LGBTQ officer in the United States military to be promoted to general. She offers these words of encouragement to commemorate this important date in our nation's history.

On our nation's 250th Birthday I remain hopeful for America despite the multiple dumpster fires of corruption and violations of due process that we all witness. I remain hopeful because America is at its best when faced with a struggle- this nation was born from a struggle. Sometimes it takes us a little longer than I’m comfortable with to rise to the occasion but our national spirit eventually moves us in the right direction.

I participated in a Declaration of Independence reading with National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A). The last line of the Declaration instructs the signers: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

As members of the LGBTQ military veteran community we have experience risking it all. We have loved a country that didn’t always love us and fought for a country that didn’t always understand why we would do such a thing. We do it because we are patriotic Americans in the most basic sense of the concept, because we declare ourselves to be free to pursue life, liberty and happiness. And we are willing to pledge our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor for a life we know is possible.

Have hope on our 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. America is made up of people like you and me. We will continue to rise to the occasion when our nation struggles, putting it on the right path again when necessary. We are moving through a period where our voices are necessary and I trust you to mutually pledge that we will move this nation in the right direction.

07/04/2026

Happy Birthday America. "This I will defend."

06/30/2026

Thank you Texas Public Radio for this great article about our visit to the Obama Presidential Center.

Inside the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, visitors will see the names of two San Antonians — Danny Ingram and Eric Alva — honored for their service and activism in the movement to end the military's ban on "homosexual conduct."

06/30/2026

On this final day of Pride Month, 2026, AVER would like to offer this message from Major General Trish Rose, USAF (ret) from several years ago. These words are more important now than ever. General Rose was the highest ranking officer in the US military to come out following the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

“These are tough times, for our community, and our nation. But as I said before, 'you can be pitiful, or you can be powerful...but you can't be both.' We must all educate, inform, and inspire, so that folks are not misled by leaders who want to divide us as a nation. We must attack and dispel prejudice wherever and whenever we can. And as I have shared before, when it comes to prejudice, there are two types of people who live in that darkness - those who are desperate to emerge and those who are desperate to stay. We must shine our light for that first type, and stop worrying about what the other type thinks of us. We must all be our authentic selves and give others the courage to do the same.”

06/30/2026

An amazing interview with AVER Chicago Chapter President Ale Hernandez during the city's Pride Month celebrations. Way to go Ale! Oorah!

06/28/2026