In a touching story, a decorated veteran revealed his true self following a lifetime of secrecy.
The obituary of Col. Edward Thomas Ryan, an Army vet and retired firefighter from New York, was published in the Albany Times just last week. It included a note written by Ryan himself.
In his own words, he stated, “I must tell you one more thing. I was Gay all my life: thru grade school, thru High School, thru College, thru Life.” Ryan went on to reveal that he had found love in a relationship with a man from North Greenbush, New York, who he described as the love of his life. Together, they shared 25 incredible years. Tragically, Ryan’s love passed away in 1994 due to a medical procedure gone wrong. In his obituary, Ryan expressed his desire to be buried next to his beloved partner. He also shared the reasons why he had kept his true self hidden during his lifetime. “I’m sorry for not having the courage to come out as Gay,” he wrote. “I was afraid of being ostracized: by Family, Friends, and Co-Workers. Seeing how people like me were treated, I just could not do it. Now that my secret is known, I’ll forever Rest in Peace.”
The obituary was accompanied by a painting of a man, presumably Ryan, in his military uniform.
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Being gay in the military can present challenges, as there have historically been policies that prohibited openly LGBTQ+ individuals from serving.
However, attitudes and policies have evolved over time, and now the U.S. military allows individuals to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation. Currently, there are several resources available to protect and support LGBTQ+ people, including LGBTQ+ community centers, LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and The Trevor Project. Lambda Legal and the ACLU offer legal support and representation for LGBTQ+ individuals facing discrimination or other challenges.
There are also support hotlines like the Trevor Project that operates a 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, while organizations like the GLBT National Help Center offer support and resources for LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages.
While discrimination and stigma can still exist in some military environments, it’s safe to say that some progress has been made.
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