Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

“We’re Going to Fix It”

Almost since her first day in Washington, Hillary Clinton has been an outspoken critic of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." She first attacked the military's ban on gay service members as First Lady, refusing to shy away from a policy her husband enacted . . . even while his administration was still at the helm. She continued her criticism during her historic campaign for the Senate and became a reliable ally for LGBT personnel. Now, as a candidate for the presidency, Senator Clinton is standing up, again, to tackle the issue. Her latest remarks came on Friday, during an address to the Human Rights Campaign. According to the Associated Press, Clinton said that "This policy doesn't just hurt gays and lesbians, it hurts all our troops and this to me is a matter of national security and we're going to fix it." Senator Clinton said it would be safer for the nation if openly gay soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen could wear the uniform, according to AP. She couldn't be more right. And with a 2008 Democratic field of candidates who all support repeal (and a possible Republican ally or two in the race as well), the American people can be more confiden than ever that, indeed, we're going to fix it . . . and fix it soon. Kudos to Senator Clinton who, if elected our nation's first female commander-in-chief, can break one more barrier in the armed forces and work to allow gays the opportunity to serve openly. - Steve Ralls TUNE IN: You can also watch Senator Clinton's remarks on YouTube.

Labels: 2008, Congress, Hillary Clinton

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03-06-07 Comment (0)

Thoughts & Musings from Sharra & Her Partner

Random Thoughts and Musings on last night’s The L Word episode from Sharra E. Greer, SLDN’s Director of Law and Policy, and her partner D’Arcy Kemnitz. Bikini’s In Iraq? A small regret, The L-Word has few, but then again, too few to mention. But, let’s just point out one or two. In this week’s episode, discussion of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, or any insights into Tasha’s life in the military ranged from non-existent to Missing-In-Action. Yet, any observant viewer certainly noticed the bikini tan lines on Rose Rollins during the beautiful, fine-art quality nude of Tasha and Alice intertwined – causing one to wonder, is it likely that Tasha wore a bikini in Iraq? Body makeup, anyone? A Busby Berkely showgirl extravaganza as an opening scene? Why not? This week’s episode of the L-Word charted a new course in riffing off the classical movies techniques of Busby Berkely, famous for his elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns. The episode began with an opening aerial shot of returning-favorite Marina sporting a très risque top coat and tails (and garters!) with what would appear to be extras from Moulin Rouge wearing rubber-fetish/belle époque costumes in a synchronized dance number, as Marina introduces “Lez Girls.” Long term viewers may have been disappointed that the producers were circulating back to the previous unloved introductory fantasy sequence, however this episode’s opener was tightly woven into the narrative as Jenny continues to shop her “Lez Girls” article into a feature film. Get ready for “Lez Girls” the musical! Alice in Bed-erland This week’s episode featured a delicious dialogue-heavy scene that was directed with a chiffon-light touch in which Alice holds court in bed, after an evening with Tasha, along with new characters Papi and Helena. Their little ménage à quatre is interrupted by a distraught Leonard (Phyllis’ (Cybill Shepherd) husband) who, after settling onto the bed as well, demands to know what kind of spell Alice put over on his wife, begging, “What can you do in bed that a man can’t do. . .?” Katherine Moennig Breaks Out Fans of Shane will be thrilled that Katherine Moennig finally had an opportunity to sink her teeth into the role and show her acting chops beyond the bedroom scenes (not that we didn’t enjoy them!) as she chews up the scenery in a confrontation with her addict father. Her father reappears and threatens to put her half-brother, and de facto ward, into foster care if Shane fights him as he takes the child away from her. The episode ends in classic LA style, with Shane and Alice sipping brews on a billboard featuring Shane’s underwear ad. You’ll have to watch the episode to find out what they do with the spray paint!

Labels: the l word

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03-05-07 Comment (0)

Debating the Ban at Harvard

On Friday and Saturday, Harvard Law School hosted a two-day series of workshops and panels on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." SLDN staffer Sharon Alexander was there, along with SLDN speakers bureau member Brian Fricke, SLDN board member Joan Darrah and many other long-time allies for repeal. On Saturday evening, Harvard Law's Lambda (HLS Lambda) student group presented SLDN with its second annual Gay and Lesbian Legal Advocacy Leadership Award. The comments below are excerpts from Saturday's acceptance speech by our executive director, C. Dixon Osburn. ___ “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” I would submit to you, denies every lesbian, gay and bisexual American full citizenship. Citizenship entails both rights and obligations. Merriam Webster defines citizen as “a native or naturalized individual who owes allegiance to a government…and is entitled to the enjoyment of governmental protection and to the exercise of civil rights.” The Fourteenth Amendment states: “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” Interestingly, the same Amendment that defines citizenship also provides that no state shall “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Historically, citizenship has been tied directly to military service. When our country was founded, only white males had the right to vote, own property, and serve in elected office. Those rights and responsibilities were very explicitly tied to military service. In 1792, Congress enacted a statute that required every “free, able-bodied white male citizen to join the militia.” African Americans were not considered citizens, and were not allowed to join the militia. . . . Today, gay soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are arguing in federal court that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” denies them their due process and equal protection rights under the Constitution. Next Wednesday, twelve service members take their case to the First Circuit Court of Appeals here in Boston in Cook vs. Gates. They have more than sixty-five years of service to our country, and scores of medals and decorations. All served during the current war on terror, three in direct support of operations in the Middle East. One was one of the Army’s top recruiters. One served in the infantry. Two were discharged, accused of holding hands for five seconds in the PX; charges they denied. The allegations, though, were sufficient to uphold the dismissal. Another was discharged when she requested a deferment of her report date in order to care for her partner of fourteen years who had terminal brain cancer. These men and women are brave, patriotic Americans who are willing to fight and defend our freedom. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled to, and less than that no man shall have.” One hopes that the First Circuit Court will fully appreciate the historical context that connects the duty, obligations and privilege of military service to the rights and benefits of citizenship, life, liberty, and happiness. . . . The most insidious aspect of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is “Don’t Tell.” We cannot be honest about who we are. We are invisible. And, as a result, commanders do not know who we are. Pentagon officials do not know who we are. Members of Congress do not know we exist. If citizenship means anything, it means that we have an opportunity to speak up for ourselves, openly and honestly. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” denies us that right. I predict that the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be a watershed moment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community just as racial integration in our armed forces was crucial to the civil rights battles that followed. In short, repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will validate gay Americans as full citizens. I am full of hope that the time is near when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” shall be relegated to the dustbin of history. General Shalikashvili’s change of opinion and calling for repeal gives me hope. BG Kerr, BG Richards and Admiral Steinman coming out as gay gives me hope. Out returning Iraq vets who were out to their units without incident gives me hope. The fact that four in five Americans support gays serving openly gives me hope. The fact that 73% of returning Iraq and Afghan veterans say that they are comfortable with gays and lesbians gives me tremendous hope that equality is near. I leave you with this quote from the conclusion of Angels in America: “The world only spins forward. We will be citizens. The time has come.”

Labels: Osburn

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03-05-07 Comment (0)

Don’t Debate

The blog at ABC News reported yesterday on a statement from Dr. David Chu, Defense Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness, to Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Senator Wyden wrote to the Pentagon, asking for any military justification for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Dr. Chu, rather than responding to the Senator's question, said in a letter that "A national debate on changing" the law would bring "divisiveness and turbulence across our country," which "will compound the burden of the war." In other words: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Debate. Funny, I always thought Congress did its job best when it engaged in open, informed debate about the issues. And I thought it might be the loss of doctors, linguists, and other critical personnel that could be 'compouding the burden of the war.' But according to Dr. Chu, it's the exercise of free speech, and open debate, that spirals our democracy into the abyss. What country do we live in again? Let's all stand up for Congressional oversight, educated debate and the first amendment by asking Congress to look at the issue and decide: Is it informed conversation, or the loss of qualified troops who could help in the war, that hurts us more. - Steve Ralls

Labels: Chu, Congress, Wyden

03-04-07 Comment (1)

Remembering Aslan

I was sad to (belatedly) learn this week that Frontiers reporter Aslan Brooke passed away in early February. She was 67. Aslan was not just a reporter who covered the LGBT community with great passion, but she was also a friend, to both SLDN and to me. Aslan was a veteran, too, and as Frontiers editor Alex Cho noted in his tribute to her, "From 1961-1966, she served in the U.S. Army as a medic — and would later become an outspoken opponent of the military’s 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' policy." Indeed, Aslan relished the opportunity to write about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." One of her final pieces for SLDN - and the one I know she most enjoyed writing - was an interview with retired Army Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy. General Kennedy, who spoke in 2006 at SLDN's national dinner, shared service stories with Aslan . . . along with a few antecdotes about her cats. As soon as the interview was over, Aslan called, beaming over the phone, to tell me how much she loved talking to the general. Her passion for the issue shows through in her wonderful story. I always knew when Aslan was on the other end of the line, because she was the only reporter, when I picked up the phone, who would always start the conversation with an enthusiastic "Hi, honey!" And always, at some point in the conversation, she'd inevitably say, "Well I just love you." We loved Aslan, too, and she will be sorely missed by all of us here at SLDN, and by all of us in the LGBT community. - Steve Ralls -----

03-02-07 Comment (0)

Tony & Elaine Talk About Repeal

White House spokesman Tony Snow, tipped off by The Washington Times that Congress might be up to something dealing with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," stopped short of saying today that the President would definitely veto any change in the law. When asked about Congressman Marty Meehan's repeal legislation, Snow told The Times that "We will see what happens if Congress comes up with something." Granted, Snow began his response by re-iterating Bush's support for the current law, but didn't necessarily rule out the possibility that the commander-in-chief would accept a Congressional proposal to allow gays to serve openly. Snow, to his credit, is a little more grounded in reality than our favorite nemesis. Elaine Donnelly told The Times that "Even the Democrats I've talked to don't want to touch this bill." Ummmmm . . . sorry, Elaine. But 107 Democrats and 3 Republicans endorsed the bill on its first day. (We doubt that Elaine actually talks to many Democrats, so perhaps she was unaware.) And if the White House isn't running away in total hysterics, she may to re-evaluate her position soon. Would the President veto repeal? Does Elaine Donnelly exist on the same plane of reality as the rest of us? Pontificate in the comments! - Steve Ralls

Labels: elaine donnelly, white house

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03-01-07 Comment (0)

Getting 110 in the 110th Congress!

Yesterday Congressman Marty Meehan reintroduced a bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and rid this country once and for all the only federal law requiring discrimination against lesbians, gays and bisexuals. 110 members – over 1/4 - of the House have signed on to the bill. This is an amazing achievement! The Democrats have just taken charge, new Members are still hiring their staff, committees are regrouping and pushing hard with hearings – how did we get so many members on so quickly? I’ve been on board at SLDN as Policy Advocate (read “lobbyist”) just one month. In that time we moved from 40 to 110 cosponsors on the bill. How did we do it? These things don’t just happen. I’ve been blessed to “parachute” into an organization that is well-organized and strategic and staffed by clear-headed, hard-working, extremely skilled individuals. Through research, legal services, litigation, policy, and meticulous documentation of the devastation wreaked by “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” since 1993, they have created the groundwork for SLDN’s exceptional media work and outreach to key audiences we need on our side to change the policy – retired top military brass, the general public, and finally, Congress. After years of working on federal issues from Chicago, I decided I wanted to work as a lobbyist in DC to help hold the new Democrat-led Congress accountable for its promises to the American people. I wanted to work for an organization that had rock solid research credentials, a positive media presence, and credibility so that I could actually be part of getting something done. SLDN was the only organization I applied to, and luckily, I got the job. So for a month I’ve been urging members of Congress supportive on the issue to prioritize signing on to the legislation among their many pressing priorities. With SLDN’s policy team, Rep. Meehan’s wonderful staff, Bob Kearney at HRC, DC’s close-knit community of gay rights groups, and many vets, gay and straight, putting their all into this battle, we got 110 in the 110th before the end of February. (It hasn’t hurt that media coverage has been strong and extremely supportive – reporters just don’t seem to fathom how such a ridiculous policy can still be in place!) Now we move on to convincing less supportive members of Congress to catch up to the American people and oppose federally sanctioned discrimination against those courageously serving our country! We’ll be adding more House members to the bill and introducing a bill in the Senate over the coming months. To join us in the effort, please come to our lobby day March 26, or even sign up to advocate from home. This is the year to make the difference. For more info, go to www.sldn.org and click on “SLDN Lobby Day 2007." - Julie Kruse

Labels: Congress, in the news, legislation, Lobby Day, Meehan

03-01-07 Comment (1)