Sgt. Eric Alva

Retired Marine Sgt. Eric Alva speaks at Pride Awareness Month’s opening ceremonies on Monday. Alva, 43, was the first U.S. Marine injured in the Iraq War when he stepped on a landmine after being in Iraq for 3 hours, and helped to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. “The norm is about being happy and letting people live their lives,” he said.

Correction: The original cutline identified Sgt. Alva as a soldier, not a marine.