Darren Manzella
{{short description|American activist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Darren Manzella
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1977|8|08}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|08|29|1977|8|08}}
| death_place = Pittsford, New York, US
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = American
| known_for = Openly gay in the United States Army despite DADT policy
| education =
| employer =
| occupation = Medical Liaison, United States Army
| spouse = Javier Lapeira (m. 2013)
}}
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.[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[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 Manzella served in Iraq and Kuwait, and was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas.[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}}
Early life
Manzella grew up on his parents' grape farm in Portland, Chautauqua County, New York, where he attended Brocton Central School.
Activism
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.[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-soft-on-dont-ask-dont-tell/ Military Soft On Don't Ask, Don't Tell?], 60 Minutes, December 16, 2007, retrieved February 4, 2008
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.
Commendations
During his service, he earned the Combat Medical Badge.
''60 Minutes'' and discharge
Manzella came out on American news program 60 Minutes in 2007,[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 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 ending it. He believed that gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly. 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 Network (SLDN), a gay military organization and lobby group.
Manzella was discharged with full benefits in June 2008 for acknowledging that he was gay.[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 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.{{Cite web|url=https://truthwinsout.org/news/2013/08/37075/|title=Former Army Sergeant Darren Manzella, Who Fought Strongly Against DADT, Has Died In An Auto Accident {{!}} Truth Wins Out|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-03|archive-date=2019-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703114102/https://truthwinsout.org/news/2013/08/37075/|url-status=dead}}
In August 2011, Manzella returned to Rochester and began working as a health science specialist for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Personal life and death
Manzella married Javier Lapeira in Rochester on July 5, 2013.{{cite news|publisher=Washington Blade |date=August 30, 2013|accessdate=August 30, 2013|last=Johnson| first=Chris|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/08/30/iraq-war-vet-fought-dont-ask-dies-car-accident/|title=Iraq war vet who fought 'don't ask' dies in car accident}}{{cite news|title=Darren Manzella, soldier who fought 'don't ask, don't tell,' killed in crash|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20130830/NEWS01/308300032/man-killed|accessdate=August 30, 2013|newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle|date=August 30, 2013}} On August 29, 2013, Manzella was killed when the driver of an SUV hit him as he was in the act of pushing his disabled vehicle off the road in Pittsford, Monroe County, New York.{{cite news|title=Man Pushing Vehicle On 490 Struck And Killed Following Crash|url=http://rochester.ynn.com/content/top_stories/690434/man-pushing-vehicle-on-490-struck-and-killed-following-crash/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130830204247/http://rochester.ynn.com/content/top_stories/690434/man-pushing-vehicle-on-490-struck-and-killed-following-crash/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2013|accessdate=August 30, 2013|newspaper=YNN Rochester|date=August 29, 2013}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- CNN: [http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/10/vif2.dont.ask.dont.tell/index.html Pelin Sidki, "Discharged under 'don't ask, don't tell'," November 10, 2009], accessed May 30, 2013
- [http://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/08/article.pdf Chris Johnson, "Army sergeant comes out on CBS '60 Minutes'", January 11, 2008]
- [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/darren-manzella-dead_n_3846233.html "Darren Manzella Dead: 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Activist Dies In Traffic Accident", August 30, 2013]
{{Don't ask, don't tell}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manzella, Darren}}
Category:People from Chautauqua County, New York
Category:American LGBTQ rights activists
Category:United States Army soldiers
Category:American military personnel discharged for homosexuality
Category:Road incident deaths in New York (state)
Category:Pedestrian road incident deaths
Category:Activists from New York (state)