Jump to content

Darren Manzella: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Cydebot (talk | contribs)
6,812,251 edits
m Robot - Speedily moving category Activists from New York to Category:Activists from New York (state) per CFDS.
Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 1 as dead. #IABot (v1.5)
Line 22: Line 22:
| spouse = Javier Lapeira (2013{{snd}}Manzella's death)
| spouse = Javier Lapeira (2013{{snd}}Manzella's death)
}}
}}
'''Darren Manzella''' (August 8, 1977 – August 29, 2013) was a [[United States Army]] [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]], Army medic and [[gay]] activist from [[Portland, New York]], who was discharged under the [[Don't ask, don't tell]] policy.<ref name="gay">[http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/268023.html Military takes no action against gay medic from Chautauqua County], The Buffalo News, by Lindsey McPherson, January 4, 2008, retrieved January 4, 2008</ref><ref name="first">[http://www.bilerico.com/2007/12/60_minutes_with_darren_manzella.php 60 Minutes with Darren Manzella], by Steve Ralls, December 13, 2007, retrieved February 4, 2008</ref> Manzella served in [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[Kuwait]], and was stationed in [[Fort Hood, Texas]].<ref name="out">[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iusf0qzmyeUxdw-9g2DKh42LzkNwD8U21OR00 Soldier: Policy on Gays May Be Shifting], By Suzanna Gamoa, Associated Press, January 8, 2008, retrieved February 4, 2008{{dead link|date=November 2012|bot=Legobot}}</ref>
'''Darren Manzella''' (August 8, 1977 – August 29, 2013) was a [[United States Army]] [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]], Army medic and [[gay]] activist from [[Portland, New York]], who was discharged under the [[Don't ask, don't tell]] policy.<ref name="gay">[http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/268023.html Military takes no action against gay medic from Chautauqua County], The Buffalo News, by Lindsey McPherson, January 4, 2008, retrieved January 4, 2008</ref><ref name="first">[http://www.bilerico.com/2007/12/60_minutes_with_darren_manzella.php 60 Minutes with Darren Manzella], by Steve Ralls, December 13, 2007, retrieved February 4, 2008</ref> Manzella served in [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[Kuwait]], and was stationed in [[Fort Hood, Texas]].<ref name="out">[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iusf0qzmyeUxdw-9g2DKh42LzkNwD8U21OR00 Soldier: Policy on Gays May Be Shifting]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, By Suzanna Gamoa, Associated Press, January 8, 2008, retrieved February 4, 2008{{dead link|date=November 2012|bot=Legobot}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Line 37: Line 37:
Manzella came out on American news program ''[[60 Minutes]]'' in 2007,<ref name="gay"/><ref name="mw">[http://metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=3287 In and Out: Despite a national profile as an openly gay soldier, Uncle Sam still wants Sgt. Darren Manzella], Metro Weekly, by Will O'Bryan, March 6, 2008, retrieved March 13, 2008</ref> the first openly gay service member on active duty to speak to the press from a war zone.<ref name="first"/> His decision to appear on the show resulted from his opposition to the [[Don't ask, don't tell]] policy and his desire to build momentum for ending it.<ref name="gay"/> He believed that gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly.<ref name="gay"/> He said that due to the ''60 Minutes'' interview he would likely be discharged.<ref name="out"/> He was placed on [[block leave]].<ref name="gay"/> He worked with the [[Servicemembers Legal Defense Network]] (SLDN), a gay military organization and lobby group.<ref name="out"/>
Manzella came out on American news program ''[[60 Minutes]]'' in 2007,<ref name="gay"/><ref name="mw">[http://metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=3287 In and Out: Despite a national profile as an openly gay soldier, Uncle Sam still wants Sgt. Darren Manzella], Metro Weekly, by Will O'Bryan, March 6, 2008, retrieved March 13, 2008</ref> the first openly gay service member on active duty to speak to the press from a war zone.<ref name="first"/> His decision to appear on the show resulted from his opposition to the [[Don't ask, don't tell]] policy and his desire to build momentum for ending it.<ref name="gay"/> He believed that gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly.<ref name="gay"/> He said that due to the ''60 Minutes'' interview he would likely be discharged.<ref name="out"/> He was placed on [[block leave]].<ref name="gay"/> He worked with the [[Servicemembers Legal Defense Network]] (SLDN), a gay military organization and lobby group.<ref name="out"/>


Manzella was discharged with full benefits in June 2008 for acknowledging that he was gay.<ref name="kickedout">[http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/openly-gay-army-sergeant-discharged-dont-ask-dont-tell/ Openly Gay Army Sergeant Discharged Under 'Don't ask, don't tell'], FoxBusiness News, June 26, 2007, accessed June 27, 2008</ref> The DADT policy was repealed in 2011.
Manzella was discharged with full benefits in June 2008 for acknowledging that he was gay.<ref name="kickedout">[http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/openly-gay-army-sergeant-discharged-dont-ask-dont-tell/ Openly Gay Army Sergeant Discharged Under 'Don't ask, don't tell'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804105555/http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/openly-gay-army-sergeant-discharged-dont-ask-dont-tell/ |date=2008-08-04 }}, FoxBusiness News, June 26, 2007, accessed June 27, 2008</ref> The DADT policy was repealed in 2011.


Immediately following the repeal of DADT, Manzella enlisted into the New York Army National Guard and was promoted and awarded for his meritorious service.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
Immediately following the repeal of DADT, Manzella enlisted into the New York Army National Guard and was promoted and awarded for his meritorious service.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}

Revision as of 01:51, 5 September 2017

Darren Manzella
Born(1977-08-08)August 8, 1977
DiedAugust 29, 2013(2013-08-29) (aged 36)
Pittsford, New York
Cause of deathtraffic collision
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Medical Liaison, United States Army
Known forOpenly gay in the United States Army despite DADT policy
SpouseJavier Lapeira (2013 – Manzella's death)

Darren Manzella (August 8, 1977 – August 29, 2013) was a United States Army Sergeant, Army medic and gay activist from Portland, New York, who was discharged under the Don't ask, don't tell policy.[1][2] Manzella served in Iraq and Kuwait, and was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas.[3]

Early life

Manzella grew up on his parents' grape farm in Portland, Chautauqua County, New York, where he attended Brocton Central School.[1]

Controversy

Manzella came out to his commander after rumors of his sexuality surfaced[1] in the form of threats to "turn the flame down." Manzella had at that point told his unit that he was gay and had introduced them to his boyfriend, A.J.[4]

No action was taken against Manzella due to the army's finding no evidence of his homosexuality in its investigation, which included a video provided by Manzella displaying passionate kissing between him and his boyfriend.[4] The investigation concluded that he should return to work and he was told, "You're not gay"[4] and that "proof of homosexuality"[3] had not been found.

During his service, he earned the Combat Medical Badge.[5]

60 Minutes and discharge

Manzella came out on American news program 60 Minutes in 2007,[1][6] the first openly gay service member on active duty to speak to the press from a war zone.[2] His decision to appear on the show resulted from his opposition to the Don't ask, don't tell policy and his desire to build momentum for ending it.[1] He believed that gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly.[1] He said that due to the 60 Minutes interview he would likely be discharged.[3] He was placed on block leave.[1] He worked with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a gay military organization and lobby group.[3]

Manzella was discharged with full benefits in June 2008 for acknowledging that he was gay.[7] The DADT policy was repealed in 2011.

Immediately following the repeal of DADT, Manzella enlisted into the New York Army National Guard and was promoted and awarded for his meritorious service.[citation needed]

In August 2011, Manzella returned to Rochester and began working as a health science specialist for the Department of Veterans Affairs.[5]

He joined the reserves shortly before his death in 2013.[8]

Personal life and death

Manzella married Javier Lapeira in Rochester on July 5, 2013.[5][8] On August 29, 2013, Manzella was killed when an SUV hit him as he was in the act of pushing his disabled vehicle off the road in Pittsford, Monroe County, New York.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Military takes no action against gay medic from Chautauqua County, The Buffalo News, by Lindsey McPherson, January 4, 2008, retrieved January 4, 2008
  2. ^ a b 60 Minutes with Darren Manzella, by Steve Ralls, December 13, 2007, retrieved February 4, 2008
  3. ^ a b c d Soldier: Policy on Gays May Be Shifting[permanent dead link], By Suzanna Gamoa, Associated Press, January 8, 2008, retrieved February 4, 2008[dead link]
  4. ^ a b c Military Soft On Don't Ask, Don't Tell?, 60 Minutes, December 16, 2007, retrieved February 4, 2008
  5. ^ a b c Johnson, Chris (August 30, 2013). "Iraq war vet who fought 'don't ask' dies in car accident". Washington Blade. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  6. ^ In and Out: Despite a national profile as an openly gay soldier, Uncle Sam still wants Sgt. Darren Manzella, Metro Weekly, by Will O'Bryan, March 6, 2008, retrieved March 13, 2008
  7. ^ Openly Gay Army Sergeant Discharged Under 'Don't ask, don't tell' Archived 2008-08-04 at the Wayback Machine, FoxBusiness News, June 26, 2007, accessed June 27, 2008
  8. ^ a b c "Darren Manzella, soldier who fought 'don't ask, don't tell,' killed in crash". Democrat and Chronicle. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  9. ^ "Man Pushing Vehicle On 490 Struck And Killed Following Crash". YNN Rochester. August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Darren_Manzella&oldid=798999418"