U.S. military veteran publicly declares his identity in his own death notice.
Retired Colonel Edward Thomas Ryan, a resident of Rensselaer, New York, passed away at 85 in June. Serving in the US Army during the Vietnam War, he received high honors. Later, he worked as a firefighter in his hometown and co-founded a local radio station.
His obituary on Legacy.com isn't extraordinary due to the usual listings of familial links, military accolades, and funeral plans. However, the closing personal note has people talking.
The message starts with "I've got one more little secret for ya." The reserved Ryan then touches upon a subject that he kept hidden his entire life: his sexual orientation. "Yep, I was a queer man, from school days to college, and all throughout my life," he pens.
Though Ryan never openly acknowledged his sexuality during his lifetime, he found his soulmate, Paul Cavagnaro from North Greenbush. They were together for 25 years until Cavagnaro's demise in 1994, resulting from complications due to a failed medical operation. Ryan will be laid to rest beside his loved one.
Regretting his apprehension to come out, Ryan states, "Everyone was so closed-minded back then: family, friends, workmates. I just couldn't take the risk." Now that his secret is out, he feels at ease. "I'll find my peace now."
Internet conversations about Ryan's military service are still going strong. One comment reads: "My sincere condolences to both of your souls finding eternal peace together. Thank you for your service. I'm sorry you couldn't truly live as you wanted. Rest in peace."
According to The New York Times, Ryan shared his obituary with his niece Linda Sargent and her husband Edward Sargent a month before his passing. "Linda and I knew, didn't we?" Edward confesses to the paper. "We never sat down and discussed it before because my uncle was a private man. So we never broached the subject. We knew, but we didn't say anything."
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In light of this, the international LGBTIQ community expresses their support and commends Colonel Ryan's bravery in publicly acknowledging his sexual orientation. Unfortunately, there have been numerous LGBTIQ deaths worldwide due to discrimination and lack of acceptance.
The United Nations and various human rights organizations continue to advocate for the protection of LGBTIQ rights globally, including in the USA, where homosexuality was once considered a criminal offense.
