Did you know the hero-intern who saved Giffords, Daniel Hernandez Jr, is gay?

[hedgehog]

Something to mention the next time someone says "That's so gay"!

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/01/13/obama-calls-gay-giffords-intern-a-hero

Thanks to pgodbold :applause: for posting this in GLBT!

[The Wielding Truth]

1. I heard. Amazingly composed and competent man.

[bdamomma]

2. yea, I bet Jan Brewer is turning green on that one Latino and Gay!

[Lint Head]

3. Yes.

Which is surprising that the bigots have not come out of the wood work.

[Fire Walk With Me]

37. This, thankfully, is the sort of thing which takes the steam out of the bigots.

[tabatha]

4. I would say he is a very confident young man.

(I guess that is why McCain was looking at him like that ?)

[EFerrari]

5. And an activist for GLBT issues.

:hi:

[Kali]

6. yes

he is involved in local activism

[DCKit]

7. Still? Gotta admit, he's got conviction.

:sarcasm:

[lies and propaganda]

8. you win this week's internet!

[xor]

39. lol

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. Gay Hero Politician.

:applause:

[xchrom]

10. Recommend

[littlewolf]

11. so ... he's gay ... this is important because??

sorry not seeing the important here .... he is quick thinking and resourceful ... in short competent that is all that matters ...
his sexual orientation or his race has nothing to do with either .... I am glad he was there and was able to do those
things that he did ....

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

13. That's so Gay...... can take on new meaning..... like saving someone's life.

[justiceischeap]

15. Ever hear of role models? Not many gay kids have them because

we aren't usually talk about in positive ways. We're always evil, etc.

[hedgehog]

22. Thanks! I knew this was important, but couldn't articulate why!

[FreeState]

23. Here is a really good article on Invisible Bias - this is why pointing out he is gay is important

http://www.aas.org/cswa/status/2005/JUNE2005/InvisibleBias.html

[kestrel91316]

17. The public still needs to know that gays are not simply "fairies".

He helps to disprove the false stereotype.

[FreeState]

21. Quick name another national gay hero... oh wait thats hard

because GLBT persons in this country have been invisible and continue to be invisible because "it doesn't matter that hes gay".

[KamaAina]

27. Harvey Milk

of course, I am just down the road from SF.

[Behind the Aegis]

30. But honestly, if not for your location and the movie, I doubt many would know his name.

They may know the "twinkie defense," but not many knew who Milk was until the movie, unless they were active in gay activism.

[csziggy]

28. Lt. Choi nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. I predict that he has a bright future ahead of him

[Greybnk48]

14. Yes. And the more vocal and public their insanity is the

It was mentioned the first day.

[Mike 03]

16. Yes, I had read ths. NT

[elleng]

18. Did I care?

[Behind the Aegis]

24. See post #23 from "freestate."

[donheld]

44. I did

[Vinca]

19. I noticed John and Cindy McCain were sitting behind Mr. Hernandez.

I wondered if it crossed the old coot's mind that a gay man had braved gunfire to save a comrade . . . just like they do in the military.

[patrice]

20. AND Hispanic. So he probably helped support repeal of DADT & watched the Dream Act get tabled. nt

[Behind the Aegis]

25. K&R

:applause:

[BlueIris]

26. Heh. Good to know. nt

[madmom]

29. Yes, I had heard that.

[KamaAina]

31. As was Mark Bingham

who rushed to cockpit of United Flight 93 on Nineleven(TM).

[madmax]

32. Courage?

My gay family members and friends are courage and love personified. They enrich my life in so many ways.

[emilyg]

33. To me he's just a brave human being.

[Fly by night]

34. Yes. It's been the subject of at least a half dozen OPs on the "Greatest" page this week.

I guess one more won't hurt.

[blondeatlast]

35. Yes, I did. I've met the gentlemen briefly. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

36. Yes.

And I think it's valid to remind people of that, for the reasons listed above (role models, etc.)

[bluestate10]

38. Sexuality is irrelevant. Courage and humanity are valueless.

Daniel Hernandez is Case #1 why gay soldiers will be as effective as straights given equal amounts of courage and humanity.

[xor]

40. I think it's relevant as long as there are haters on the right who try to make claims

that gays lack those traits you mentioned.

[bluestate10]

42. Anyone making that claim is a fool.

Don't ignore them because they are fundamentally dangerous. But in the overall scheme of life and the people living life, such closed minded extremists are of little consequence.

[stevedeshazer]

41. The moment I saw him I thought that.

I dunno why, I just did.

I also sensed immediately that he was an incredibly brave human being.

Hero? Hell, yes.

[TheKentuckian]

43. Hell of a guy. For some reason it would be extra gratifying to see him punt Christie

I don't know why that was my strongest impression of the man but him running circles around that punk ass bully on various feats. You know, debates, fisticuffs, ninja warrior obstacle courses, Jeopardy, Madden, name that tune, whatever...Presidential election??? Meh...meh...mehhhh!!!

[Withywindle]

45. K & R

It's important to talk about because orientation is still a reason way too many people are denied basic civil rights.

Being "orientation-blind" is not necessarily always a virtue when the playing field is still so uneven, and when GLBT people have been written out of history for so long.

And he is active and proud about his gay identity, it's important to him, so we should honor it too.