It’s been a grim week for American politics, with the country teetering on default after Republicans and Democrats nearly failed to come to agreement on raising the debt ceiling. After a shaky compromise was reached Sunday, Congress and the nation as a whole appeared weary and bruised — that was, until Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, recovering from gunshot wounds to the head, showed up Monday at the House chamber to cast her vote. Members of both parties embraced her, and her presence raised the national spirits.
It was Giffords’s gay intern Daniel Hernandez who made that ebullient moment possible — after the January shooting in Tucson, Hernandez’s quick actions helped save the congresswoman’s life. Hernandez joins Hege Dalen and Torill Hansen, who last month saved 40 children from a crazed killer in Norway, as the latest LGBT heroes. On the following pages, read about these acts of bravery as well as the stories of other queer heroes. We welcome suggestions for other LGBT people who deserve their own medal of honor; send to newsroom@advocate.com.
http://www.advocate.com/Society/The_Greatest_LGBT_Heroes/Is there anyone you think should be nominated?