Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Sharon Debbage Alexander – A True Patriot

In recent years, and especially during this campaign season, the public has witnessed a debate about what conduct and statements evinces sufficient love for country and support for our troops. During this debate, we have been asked to reduce patriotism to fashion accessories and sound bites. But patriotism cannot be, nor should it be, subject to such simplistic categorization. It is a way of life; choices that are made, not in a moment, but over time. A patriot is defined as “a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.” In my mind, Sharon Debbage Alexander is the epitome of a patriot. Sharon’s entire adult life has been in service to our country; first as a member of the armed services and then in her battle to lift the ban against openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual servicemembers. Sharon viewed this fight as one that centered on what it meant to be an American. In a televised debate, Sharon summarized the central argument as: “How do we treat those lesbian and gay servicemembers who are out there spilling their blood for your freedom and mine? Do we treat them with respect, give them first class citizenship, or do we tell them thank-you for your service now get back in the closet and we’re going to discharge you? That’s not right. That’s not my America.” Sharon’s vision of America – an America that treats all individuals with dignity and respect regardless of sexual orientation – has fueled her unending optimism and determination. She has never flagged in her belief that her America would triumph and, as a result, she buoyed those around her. Sharon’s enthusiasm and sincere belief in the freedom to serve was contagious. Because of Sharon more people are involved in the fight and we are closer to the day when all Americans can serve their country openly and proudly. Sharon, thank-you for your devotion to your country, your selfless dedication to freedom, and the dignity with which you have served. -----

06-13-08 Comment (0)

Sharon Alexander’s Extraordinary Service

I have the dubious distinction of publicly – and proudly – admitting that my greatest contribution to our fight to lift the ban was when I quit my job as an SLDN Staff Attorney. No sooner had I decided to leave SLDN than Sharon Alexander, who was then an attorney with the Human Rights Campaign, called and asked me out for coffee. Sharon had then been with HRC for two years, and I had come to consider her a trusted friend. We met at one of the seemingly infinite K Street Starbucks on a rainy afternoon in the spring of 2003. Sharon wanted to know more about what my duties as an SLDN Staff Attorney entailed, and more of the “inside scoop” about what it was like to work on the SLDN staff. By the end of our meeting, it was clear that she was very interested in applying for the vacancy soon to be created by my departure. I urged her to do just that. She applied. The decision to hire her was easy and rapid. She was then pregnant with her first daughter and was about to go out on maternity leave. I agreed to extend my stay on the SLDN staff by a few months to cover so that she could enjoy her leave. In September 2003, I returned to Georgia to enter private practice, and I like to think that Sharon “took my place.” The truth is that it was like replacing an Edsel with a Bentley. During the past five years, Sharon E. Debbage Alexander has worked with tireless passion and grit on the frontlines of the fight for the freedom to serve. There is no person who cares more deeply, or who has fought harder, than Sharon for the rights of all LGBT service members. Her remarkable talents and skill led to her rising within SLDN from Staff Attorney to Director of Legislative Affairs. Her advocacy has reached many millions of Americans through her appearances on national television, during which she convincingly stated the case for equality within the U.S. Armed Forces. Sharon, who is a former Army Captain, is married to another former Army officer, Nick. While in the Army, Nick – who is now also an attorney – was a member of the elite Airborne Rangers. He and Sharon met while on active duty, married, and then served their remaining years in the Army together. Thereafter, they attended law school together. Upon moving to Washington, D.C., Nick entered private practice and Sharon embarked on an unconventional career path, working for gay rights. She could have easily gone to one of the largest D.C. law firms and made a huge amount of money, but – instead – she chose to stand and fight with those of us who have been labeled by our country and our military as second class citizens. I recall once asking Nick what he thought about his wife being a crusader for gay rights. He looked me dead in the eye and said how proud he was of her. Our movement for equality needs more Sharon Alexanders. Sharon, we are deeply indebted to you for your extraordinary service to and sacrifice for us: LGBT Americans. Thank you for your sense of justice. Thank you for your leadership and your passion. And, most importantly, thank you for your friendship.

06-12-08 Comment (1)

The Gayest Place on Earth

Last week, Kathi Westcott and I headed down to Orlando to staff the SLDN booth at Gay Days at Disney! In between having breakfast with Pluto and hanging out with Tigger in the Magic Kingdom, we spent three full days talking to thousands of people about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and SLDN’s efforts to repeal the law. We spoke with current and former service members who’ve served in Iraq and Afghanistan, some who intend to serve until retirement and others who were discharged after only a few months simply because they are gay. We spoke to advocates and supporters from all over the country, but were especially touched by the stories from native Floridians, who find living in the Sunshine State particularly difficult. Florida has some of the most anti-gay laws in the US – impacting lesbian and gay families and often leaving children without the legal protections of state-recognized two-parent households. These folks were happy to sign petitions asking Congress to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” because they know what it’s like to be treated as second-class citizens. Kathi and I also ran into a couple of people who were skeptical of repeal and, for the most part, were successful in educating them about how DADT actually works and what repeal would mean to all of those who serve. We collected well over 1,000 signatures and spread the word not only about repeal, but also about our legal services work. To-date, SLDN has answered more than 8,300 calls for assistance and we continue to be here every day to assist the brave men and women who volunteer to serve our country. These lesbian, gay and bisexual service members deserve our respect and our gratitude, yet they still continue to be fired at a rate of 2 per day, simply because of their sexual orientation. After wrapping up our duties at the expo booth, Kathi and I managed to have a little fun too. We hung out with Pooh, Tigger and the rest of the Disney family while enjoying the thrills of Space Mountain, the dizzying spinning tea cups, endless choruses of “It’s A Small World After All….” and yes, we even waited on line in the blistering heat for the flying Dumbo ride!

Labels: Pride

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06-11-08 Comment (0)

SLDN Board Co-Chairs Respond

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06-10-08 Comment (0)

The Times They Are A-Changin’

This week Former Senator Sam Nunn told an Atlanta area audience, “I think [when] 15 years go by on any personnel policy, it’s appropriate to take another look at it — see how it’s working, ask the hard questions, hear from the military. Start with a Pentagon study.” In his latest Huffington Post blog Aubrey Sarvis welcomes Nunn's comments as "progress of a sort" while challenging the need for yet another study on the issue. Sarvis notes, numerous studies have already demonstrated "sexual orientation [is] not germane to determining who may serve in the military." Attitudes towards lesbian, gay and bisexual service members have changed and what America needs is leadership on the issue -- not another report. Click here to lean more about past studies supporting openly gay military service and leave your comments on Huffington Post. -Victor Maldonado

Labels: Huffington Post, Nunn

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06-07-08 Comment (0)

Dramatic Arrest -  Gay Soldier’s Fate Grips Brazil

Brazilian military police set off a firestorm of controversy this week when they swarmed a television station, interrupted an interview in progress, and arrested an army sergeant who recently revealed that he was gay. The extraordinary set of events came about just before Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed the country's first national gay rights' conference. The BBC is reporting that Laci Marinho de Araujo was taken into custody following the publication of a magazine article in which he and his partner, who is also a sergeant in the Brazilian army, spoke publicly about their life together as a couple. The sergeant, who is being treated for a variety of medical problems including multiple sclerosis, was recently absent from his unit, and the army has accused him of desertion.

Labels: foreign militaries

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06-06-08 Comment (0)

Muted Criticism

Contrary to expectations Harvard University President Drew Faust did not use the occasion of the university's ROTC commissioning ceremony to criticize the Congressional “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, which bars openly lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans from military service. According to the Harvard Crimson, U.S. News & World Report, and others, Faust's speech made only the slightest allusion to the controversy surrounding the ban. "I wish that there were more of you," Faust told the five cadets and about 100 spectators. "I believe that every Harvard student should have the opportunity to serve in the military, as you do, and as those honored in the past have done."

Labels: don't ask don't tell, ROTC, Solomon

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06-06-08 Comment (0)

SLDN MAC Member Joan Darrah

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06-04-08 Comment (0)

Equality in the House

Something terrific, something historic happened on Capitol Hill this morning: 52 bi-partisan members of the House of Representatives joined together to form the LGBT Equality Caucus. The 52 were the first, but more will come. Twenty members stood by caucus co-chairs Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Barney Frank (D-MA) in the House Judiciary Committee hearing room as they announced the formation of the bi-partisan group. It was an inspiring and thrilling moment, a moment to make us all proud, and me proud to be there in that Rayburn hearing room. Tammy Baldwin introduced the founding members, saying, “We represent different races, different genders, different sexual orientations, different geographic regions, different generations, and different parties, but we share a common mission: to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality.” What could be more American than the diversity of that group? “This is about the LGBT community insisting on the same rights as all other Americans,” Frank said, “it’s about the military, marriage, and a job. This is hardly a radical agenda.” Radical, no, but it is an agenda that those who care about civil rights for all have been fighting for for years. The formation of this caucus is a giant step forward, but it’s important to remember that we’re not there yet. “With a Democratic majority in the House,” Barney noted, “we now have both the opportunity and the responsibility to move towards legal equality for [LGBT] people. This caucus will play an important role in helping shape the strategy by which we do this.” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) called it a “patriotic agenda for all Americans. This caucus will educate and legislate. Our focus is equality, and I am honored to stand with my colleagues today.” And I was honored to be there for SLDN. This caucus shows how far the LGBT community has come. We are now part of the fabric of our government, but we must continue to push from the outside. Equality is not yet a reality for all Americans, including the men and women who must serve in silence every day under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” -Aubrey Sarvis

Labels: Barney Frank, Congress, Tammy Baldwin

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06-04-08 Comment (0)