Details emerged late yesterday, about how the newly hired, 20 year old intern of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords performed heroically under pressure. The brave, swift and focused actions of young Daniel Hernandez may well have saved her life. Jaimee Rose and Mary Jo Pitzl wrote a wonderful and inspiring piece the Arizona Republic that got a lot of notice.
Less noticed is the news breaking today around the gay blogosphere that Hernandez confirmed to the Dallas Voice that he is gay.
It's worth making note of this. Because the message we can send is: "Yes, Gay Youth of America, You Too CAN Be A Hero."
Twenty year old Daniel Hernanez had worked for the Congresswoman only five days when the incident occured. The Arizona Republic describes his involvement as such:
When the shots began that morning, he saw many people lying on the ground, including a young girl. Some were bleeding. Hernandez said he moved from person to person checking pulses.
"First the neck, then the wrist," he said. One man was already dead. Then he saw Giffords. She had fallen and was lying contorted on the sidewalk. She was bleeding.
Using his hand, Hernandez applied pressure to the entry wound on her forehead. He pulled her into his lap, holding her upright against him so she wouldn't choke on her own blood. Giffords was conscious, but quiet.
Ron Barber, Giffords' district director, was next to her. Hernandez told a bystander how to apply pressure to one of Barber's wounds.
Barber told Hernandez, "Make sure you stay with Gabby. Make sure you help Gabby."
Hernandez used his hand to apply pressure until someone from inside Safeway brought him clean smocks from the meat department. He used them to apply pressure on the entrance wound, unaware there was an exit wound. He never let go of her.
The Dallas Voice added this unreported detail today:
Hernandez, who confirmed that he is gay in an interview with Instant Tea on Sunday morning, is a member of the City of Tucson Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. "She’s been a great ally to the LGBT community," Hernandez said of Giffords during the brief interview across a bad connection.
Indeed Rep. Giffords has been a friend to the gay community. She is said to have worked hard to try to defeat Arizona's state level DOMA bill that passed in 2008. Among the letters of support compiled by The Washington Post were these:
LGBT Equality Caucus
Giffords served on the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. That group released a statement about the shooting.
"Congresswoman Giffords' support for our LGBT family has never faltered. After coming off of one of the closest races in the most recent election cycle, one in which she was criticized for her support of equality issues, she didn't hesitate for a moment to support the repeal of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell.' She has stood with us unrelentingly and in this sad time we stand with her. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Congresswoman, her staff and their families," said LGBT Congressional Staff Association President, Chris Crowe.
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBT organization based in D.C., also released a statement about the shooting from group President Joe Solomonese:
"We are shocked and saddened by the events involving Congresswoman Giffords and our hearts go out to her and the other victims of this awful tragedy. Gabby Giffords is a champion for LGBT equality and a principled leader for Arizona. We wish her a speedy recovery as our thoughts and prayers are with her family as well as with the families of all of those touched by today's horrific violence."
Perhaps that this gay angel of mercy was near, is lovely karma for the Congresswoman. She's been on the right side of our issues. While other employers may have seen gay affiliations on his resume and told him to shove off, as it's perfectly legal to do in Arizona, Giffords (or a staffer) did not. They recognized a talented, worthy candidate when he stood before them and asked for a position.
We're seeing the sad evidence of how hard it is to be young and gay in America. The right wing regressives have long worked to erase our place from history. It isn't important, they say. They're still working very hard to keep gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender contributions hidden, despite efforts to provide a more balanced view of how LGBT people fit into the mosaic.
But it is important to recognize our gay heroes, because contrarian messages are everywhere:
- Your pastor may tell you God doesn't love gay people.
- Your parents, your family and your friends may even agree, maybe even openly and explicitly.
- Your employer may tell you they don't want no homos working there (it's legal in most states).
- Your government may tell you you are second class, ignore your marriage and deport your lawfully wedded spouse.
- They may tell you you're no good at sports and you're not welcome on the team even if you are.
- For too long, the law of the land said "homosexuality is incompatible with military service," (because gay men aren't butch, and butch women are scary).
Lies. All of them.
So, gay youth of America, when they call you faggot, sissy, dyke, don't you believe them.
Let this be a message to America's queer youth: gay people can be heroes. Let Daniel Hernandez--like so many that came before him, sung and unsung--be a living embodiment of that.
Courage, bravery, intelligence, kindness, commitment, strength, focus and all the finest qualities of man exist in all of us. They stand distinctly apart from superficialities like orientation, race, gender, religion that small minds use to divide and conquer us.
There are gay soldiers and doctors and teachers and professional athletes and pilots and police and writers and dancers and clergy and even Senators (shhhh!). Someday, there will even be a President.
America's queer youth, you are not defined by what they say you are. You can be whatever you want to be.
(And, oh yeah, it's a good thing the brown-skinned hero wasn't arrested under the draconian SB 1070 law on the way to the event, huh? He sure looks like he could be an "illegal," huh?)
[Update: Dallas Voice site appears down for maintenance at a very bad time. You can see the google cache here.]
I am disappointed to see all the Right Wing talking points of "Who Cares? It's not important" in the comment section. The very substance of which I feel I addressed thoroughly in the diary, to those who read it.
Update with CNN interview. Thanks to JPMassar & MsJohnson.
Update with the suggestion you Twitterers may want to retweet your agreement with Lt Dan Choi on this suggestion:
@LtDanChoi Daniel Hernandez, American Hero. He should be @BarackObama's guest of honor at State of Union Address.
He seems well worthy of such an honor.