To please his parents after high school, he went to a San Antonio community college but struggled, earning C's, D's and a lot of "withdrawns." "The military is not for everyone."įor Alva, though, the military was all he ever wanted. "If someone asks me if they should go into the military, I say follow your heart," he says.
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This will be his first Pride Parade in San Francisco, but he lived in the Bay Area for about nine months in the mid-'90s, stationed in Alameda. It's such an honor."Īlva, who was born and raised in San Antonio and still lives there, is spending the week playing tourist, visiting Alcatraz, Pier 39 and North Beach, riding cable cars and taking an evening cruise around the bay.
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"To see the hundreds of thousands of people who will be watching - never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this. "Being here in San Francisco to ride in the parade is like winning the lottery," says Alva, 36. Marine Corps, has become a potent speaking force around the nation, demanding an end to what he considers a cruelly discriminating policy.Īnd today, to his immense delight, he will be riding near the front of the San Francisco Pride Parade as a grand marshal. Its goal: to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which effectively bars gays, lesbians and bisexuals from serving in the armed forces.Īlva, who once planned a lifetime career in the U.S. Since then, the Human Rights Campaign has built a "Legacy of Service" tour around Alva. Mike Kepka / The Chronicle Eric Alva (cq) MANDATORY CREDIT FOR PHOTOG AND SF CHRONICLE/NO SALES-MAGS OUT Mike Kepka Show More Show Less Alva stepped on a land mine while serving in Iraq in 2003 which severely damaged his right arm and caused his right leg to be amputated. Eric Alva, of San Antonio, TX is touring San Francisco for the week with his partner and will be a grand marshall in Sunday's Gay Pride parade.
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Now speaking out against the don't ask don't tell policy, Marine Staff Sgt. With a few morning hours to spare before his busy speaking schedule begins, Eric Alva checks out the shops on Castro Street. Mike Kepka / The Chronicle Eric Alva (cq) MANDATORY CREDIT FOR PHOTOG AND SF CHRONICLE/NO SALES-MAGS OUT Mike Kepka Show More Show Less 2 of6 alva22000254.JPG Huntsville, AL ~ Huntsville: Rocket City Prideįlagstaff, AZ ~ Flagstaff: N.Eric Alva and his partner Darrell Parsons met in April 2004 after Alva came back from Iraq. Put your city on the map (see the list below), their business in the spotlight and grow your personal brand with BEQ Pride.įor more information visit: /Pride-in-Business With your charm, you will help us tell the stories of the people who are out and proud to be business owners. We want to celebrate all that they’ve accomplished and the foundation they’ve built for the community to thrive. Small businesses are the heart and soul of our economy, the backbone of our communities and America’s largest employer. Here’s your chance to highlight the LGBTQ businesses in your community.īEQ Pride is looking for BIG personalities, and social butterflies willing to take on this challenge.
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This Pride season we are embarking on an ambitious goal to virtually meet as many LGBTQ+/SGL business owners as humanly possible.