This WWII Veteran Fought for the Rights of Gays and Lesbians to Marry

categories: Gay Marriage, Marriage Equality, No on 1

Published October 22, 2009 @ 10:48AM PT

World War II Memorial

Sometimes a touching narrative is the most powerful weapon for a social justice campaign. Case in point, the story of Philip Spooner, an 86-year-old WWII veteran who made remarks earlier this year before the Maine State Legislature on why he's a gay marriage supporter. The clip of those remarks is reverberating across the blogosphere, peaking at an important time as voters in both Maine and Washington prepare to deal with ballot measures that could repeal civil rights for gays and lesbians.

Spooner's words tell the story itself. But it's worth noting that Spooner believes that the soldiers who fought at the Battles of Buna-Gona, Bismarck Sea, Mindanao, Iwo Jima, the Normandy Campaign and all of the battles of World War II fought and died so that everyone could be entitled to civil rights. In Spooner's words, "What do you think our boys fought for at Omaha Beach? I haven't seen much, so much blood and guts, so much suffering, much sacrifice. For what? For freedom and equality. These are the values that give America a great nation, one worth dying for."

Hard to put it any more authentic than that. Check out the video below.

(Photo courtesy of Bernt Rostad's photostream on Flickr.)

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Comments (21)

great story :)

Posted by Jay Pesan on 10/22/2009 @ 12:08PM PT
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Philip Spooner has done the correct thing by giving a speech for the support of the important right of same-sex marriage. Equality is necessary because equality is for everyone. His answer to the person who asked if he supported LGBT rights is one of strong commitment for equality for LGBT people. There aren't a lot of World War II veterans left, but it's great that Philip Spooner supports the very important right of same-sex marriage.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 10/22/2009 @ 03:25PM PT
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Insane!!!!!!!!!! That is what is wrong with this world. It is not and should not be a normal thing for gays to get married.

Posted by Melissa Lyons Glover on 10/22/2009 @ 07:19PM PT
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And are your reasons similar to why back in the fifties and sixties people were against miscegenation?

What is not normal with normal people getting married? Better yet what is not normal about NORMAL, loving, committed couples getting married, who have been proven to stay together on average three times as longer than their heterosexual counterparts.

So if you believe in the bullshit that normal people who seem different to you should not be allowed their full humanity then maybe you need to get off your computer and go back into the kitchen and make me a sandwich. By your wonderful ideas of normalcy, which seem to always stem from the religious ideals of oppressive nut job males, then I want my sandwich over easy no questions asked. Oh and I want my steak rare.

(fyi if you are too thick to understand this by your logic we should also roll back womens rights because by religious logic it is not normal for women to be seen as equal to men.)

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/22/2009 @ 10:05PM PT
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No offense, but if you think gay marriage is the cause for most of the wrongs in this world, then you really ought to read a newspaper more.

Posted by Michael Jones on 10/22/2009 @ 10:33PM PT
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You are right Melissa! It is INSANE for two people who LOVE and CARE and WANT to spend the rest of their lives together to get married! We should ALL be as MISERABLE as YOU apparently are.

No offense, but FUCK you!

Sorry Michael, you know I love ya, but it HAD to be said.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 10/23/2009 @ 02:21AM PT
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On second thought, I have the PERFECT place for you! UGANDA!

Posted by Dave Hershey on 10/23/2009 @ 02:28AM PT
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Miss glover...

What is truly insane is all of you bible thumpers thinking you have the right to push your religious crap onto any that dont believe as you do...

Now thats insane.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/24/2009 @ 09:26PM PT
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No, Melissa. What is insane is how you can see this video and not be moved by this man's experiences, open heart and perspective on this important human rights issue. Hatred is what is wrong with this world-your hatred. Wake up, woman. Time's a wastin!

Posted by J C on 10/25/2009 @ 11:30PM PT
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Poor Melissa.

How sad to be so unevolved.

So filled with hate and ignorance,

when love and knowledge are just an embrace away.

I am a straight man and a former christian pastor.

I've been married for 35 years

to my best friend, lover, and wife.

It's been the greatest joy of my life

and I want everyone to have that opportunity.

I live in Canada, where gay marriage is perfectly legal,

and I assure you that gay marriage has not cost me a thing.

Gay marriage has not diminished my marriage one bit.

I hope many, many gay people AND straight people

experience the stability and refuge and joy

that marriage has brought to my life.

Posted by Shas Cho on 10/26/2009 @ 09:25AM PT
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There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with ANY two people who love one another deciding that they want to spend the rest of their lives together, and being given the same INALIENABLE rights as any other two willing participants who unite their lives and their finances in the eyes of the law. In particular, the benefit of health coverage.

As JC said touched on above, hatred, intolerance, and GREED are what's wrong with this world. "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." From another JC you may have heard of. One who never said a single thing in the entirety of HIS teachings about homosexuality.

Oh, and make me a sandwich too. Sorry but that was fucking hilarious.

Posted by Matt Tanner on 10/28/2009 @ 01:37PM PT
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OMG! What a WONDERFUL father this man is! I wish MY father was just one OUNCE the man this individual is. I'm still in tears!

Posted by Dave Hershey on 10/23/2009 @ 02:22AM PT
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As a former sea man...And a fellow human being...

I salute him.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/23/2009 @ 08:16AM PT
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This man's courage, honesty, and sense of fair play to all are absolutely unmatched. I also am holding back the tears for the members of my own family who are of the same age and cannot come up with the compassion that Mr. Spooner has. As an Army retiree with twenty years service I salute you Mr. Spooner for meeting my ideal of the true American.

Posted by Gary Allmon on 10/23/2009 @ 03:04PM PT
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I Glad my father supports gay marriage, I wish more people like him support gay marriage. If I marry another man I will have my parents support.I am working on two of my siblings but maybe they will come around. A pwerful video.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 10/24/2009 @ 04:06PM PT
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I hope so mr. martinez but Im glad your parents accept you as you are.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/24/2009 @ 09:27PM PT
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thanks Tom. I am glad too, They even like a Gay person I am close too and may go steady with which is really great.if it develops into a steady dating relationship I will have their wholehearted support.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 10/25/2009 @ 07:33AM PT
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And thats the way it oughta be...

Good luck with your possible boyfriend.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/25/2009 @ 01:05PM PT
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This is heartwarming to see. This man is truly of "the Greatest Generation" and understands what American REALLY should stand for: Liberty and Justice (which includes EQUALITY) for ALL.

Melissa, you are truly a sad individual. Love is love and as long as it is the adults involved are consenting, they have as much right to happiness as anyone else.

I am happy for you, Mr Martinez. Hope everything works out. Your parents sound like really neat people.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/28/2009 @ 12:51AM PT
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Thanks Joan.They are neat people. I am working on two of my siblings accepting my lifestyle and hopefully they will come around.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 10/28/2009 @ 04:40AM PT
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Agree with Ioan above. This was definitely a heartwarming and eye-opening video to watch. In the end, everyone is just as lost as everybody else in this world (my personal philosophy), and whether you subscribe to that or not, for anyone to deny others the pursuit of their happiness because of a petty difference they can't change, regardless of religious creed, is blatantly wrong.

Also, congrats to you Martin. It sounds like you have great understanding parents.

Posted by Matt Tanner on 10/28/2009 @ 01:58PM PT
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Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.