The Castro in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Leonard Matlovich
A Gay Vietnam Veteran
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 30, 2013
1. Leonard Matlovich Marker
The marker is based on the design of Sgt. Matlovich's tombstone, located in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC. Matlovich designed his own tombstone, and purposely left off his name in order that it become a memorial not just for him, but for all gay veterans. The pink triangle was originally used in concentration camps by the Nazis to identify homosexual men, but has since been adopted as a symbol of gay rights protest.
Leonard Matlovich
who lived in this building for several years.
His epitaph reads:
A Gay Vietnam Veteran
6 July 1943 22 June 1988
In 1975, Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich, winner of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star made the military's ban on gays in the military a national issue when he appeared on the cover of Time magazine. He was arrested at the White House fighting against AIDS and always fought for full LGBT equality.
Erected 2008.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Military. A significant historical date for this entry is June 22, 1988.
Location. 37° 45.658′ N, 122° 26.084′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in The Castro. It is at the intersection of 18th Street and Castro Street, on the right when traveling west on 18th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4096 18th St, San Francisco CA 94114, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tom Waddell (within shouting distance of this marker); Federico Garcia Lorca
this page online
Also see . . . TSgt. Leonard Matlovich USAF - from Leonard Matlovich.com. IN 1975, Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich, United States Air Force, with the guidance of Gay Movement Pioneer Frank Kameny, became the first to bring the government's decades of discrimination against gays and lesbians to national consciousness when he volunteered to tell his superiors that he was gay in order to create a test case.... (Submitted on April 4, 2013.)
Additional keywords. LGBTQ
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 30, 2013
2. Leonard Matlovich Marker - Wide View
The marker is mounted to the 18th Street side of the building, just visible here in the tree's shadow.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, September 17, 2022
3. Leonard Matlovich Gravesite
His grave is at the Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E Street SE, Washington DC, Range 20, Site 161N.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2013, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,849 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 2, 2013, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2. submitted on April 3, 2013, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 3. submitted on February 26, 2023, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
