Colonel Edward Thomas Ryan came out as gay in his obituary, confessing he hid his identity due to fear of backlash, specifically in his military service.
His niece, Linda Sargent, expressed regret that Ryan had to conceal his true self, mentioning the societal challenges and the limitations faced by LGBTQ+ individuals during Ryan's lifetime.
Ryan mentioned his 25-year relationship with his partner, expressing his love and desire to be buried next to him, shedding light on the personal aspect of his life that remained hidden.
Despite being close to his family, Ryan never openly discussed his private life, indicating the difficulty he faced in openly expressing his sexual orientation even among loved ones.
Collection
[
|
...
]