Darren Manzella
Encyclopedia
Darren Manzella was an American
Army
Sergeant, Army medic and gay
activist from Portland, New York
, who has served in Iraq and Kuwait
. He was stationed out of Fort Hood, Texas
.
, where he attended the Chautauqua
Brocton High School.
Manzella came out
to his commander after rumors of his sexuality
surfaced 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.
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. The investigation concluded that he should return to work and he was told, "You're not gay" and that "proof of homosexuality" had not been found.
. He became the first openly gay service member on active duty to speak to the press from a war zone.
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 its removal. He believes that gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly.
(SLDN), a gay military organization and lobby group.
He was finally discharged in June 2008 for acknowledging that he is gay.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
Sergeant, Army medic and gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
activist from Portland, New York
Portland, New York
Portland is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 5,502 at the 2000 census.The Town of Portland is on the shore of Lake Erie west of the City of Dunkirk. The Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility is within Portland. Because the residents of this...
, who has served in Iraq and Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
. He was stationed out of Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood is a United States military post located outside of Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. It islocated halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas....
.
Overview
He grew up on his parent's grape farm in Portland, New YorkPortland, New York
Portland is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 5,502 at the 2000 census.The Town of Portland is on the shore of Lake Erie west of the City of Dunkirk. The Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility is within Portland. Because the residents of this...
, where he attended the Chautauqua
Chautauqua
Chautauqua was an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with...
Brocton High School.
Manzella came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
to his commander after rumors of his sexuality
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
surfaced 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.
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. The investigation concluded that he should return to work and he was told, "You're not gay" and that "proof of homosexuality" had not been found.
60 Minutes
Manzella came out on American news program 60 Minutes60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
. He became the first openly gay service member on active duty to speak to the press from a war zone.
His decision to appear on the show resulted from his opposition to the Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policy, and his desire to build momentum for its removal. He believes that gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly.
Discharge
He said that due to the 60 Minutes interview he would likely be discharged. He was placed on block leave. He worked with the Servicemembers Legal Defense NetworkServicemembers Legal Defense Network
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a non-profit legal services, watchdog, and policy organization founded in the United States in 1993. It is dedicated to ending discrimination and harassment of gay and lesbian U.S. military personnel negatively affected by the "Don't ask, don't tell"...
(SLDN), a gay military organization and lobby group.
He was finally discharged in June 2008 for acknowledging that he is gay.