A Silent Force

Abstract

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Acknowledgments Anthony Loverde was raised in Sacramento and in the Sierra foothills of California. He was raised in a family of full-time professionals and part-time artists. His love for photography grew as memories were shared through family albums that spanned many decades. Anthony served in the USAF for seven and a half years. He served five of those years overseas in Germany and the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unfortunately, his professional career would suddenly end in the midst of his tour in Germany due to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law that required his commander to discharge him based on the mere knowledge of Anthony being a gay man. It was through this discriminating experience that convinced Anthony to pursue a MFA in photography with the sole intention to tell the story of the men and women most affected by the Don't Ask Don't Tell law through his chosen thesis project. Anthony has found his project to be very fulfiling and therapeutic for all involved. He hopes his work will be another spear in killing discrimination against the gay and lesbian community. All photographs are © 2010 by Anthony Loverde.