Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Will the Government Really Stop Spying?

Eric Resnick at Gay Peoples Chronicle has the latest on the government's surveillance of American citizens. You may remember that, last week, James Clapper, undersecretary of defense for intelligence, told reporters that he intends to stop the controversial TALON program, which collected data on, among other groups, students opposed to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." But Resnick says, not so fast. From his report in today's paper: " . . . Clapper does not have the authority to end the program. That can only come from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has given no indication what he will do with the recommendation or when. In the mean time, the program continues." So will Gates follow Clapper's suggestion? Will he rely on a new surveillance program reported by The New York Times earlier this week? Or will TALON stay in place, monitoring the constitutionally protected political demonstrations of U.S. citizens? There's no final word on what happens next, but SLDN will keep watching, and reporting, on who the government is watching, too. - Steve Ralls

Labels: in the news, surveillance, TALON

05-03-07 Comment (1)

Intolerable.

This morning, SLDN released a letter from Senator John McCain (R-AZ), also a 2008 presidential hopeful, outlining his thoughts on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Among other things, McCain insists that openly gay troops would present "an intolerable" risk to the armed forces and straight men and women in uniform. McCain, famous for traveling in the 'Straight Talk Express,' doesn't mince words: "I believe polarization of the personnel and breakdown of unit effectiveness is too high a price to pay for well intentioned but misguided efforts to elevate the interests of a minority of homosexual servicemembers above those of their units." "Most importantly, the national security of the United States, not to mention the lives of our men and women in uniform, are put at grave risk by policies detrimental to the good order and and discipline which so distinguish America’s Armed Services. … I remain opposed to the open expression of homosexuality in the military." Time for some 'straight talk' of our own. The real questions are these: Are the gay doctors attending to the wounded an intolerable risk, or a welcome addition to the forces? Are the gay linguists translating Arabic for soldiers on the ground an intolerable risk, or a highly valued part of the military team? And are the openly gay British troops in Iraq an intolerable risk, or an important ally in the fight? Would Senator McCain send the British troops home? Are the gay troops intolerable? Or are McCain's views - putting discrimination ahead of the best interests of those on the ground - intolerable? Think Progress weighs in: McCain’s personal beliefs are antiquated and ill-informed. The overwhelming majority of the military supports equal rights for all servicemembers. Last December, a poll of servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan found that 73 percent were “comfortable with lesbians and gays.” A 2004 poll found that a majority of junior enlisted servicemembers believed gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military, up from 16 percent in 1992. Furthemore, 55 percent of Americans believe “gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military.” McCain claims that permitting gays to serve is detrimental to national security, but since Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was instituted, at least 11,000 servicemembers, hundreds of whom had with key speciality skills such as training in Arabic, have left the military. While McCain vigorously backs the plan to send thousands of troops to Iraq, he should note that the military could attract as many as 41,000 new recruits if gays could serve openly. You can read Senator McCain's full letter here, and discuss his statement at the Think Progress website. - Steve Ralls

Labels: 2008, McCain

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05-03-07 Comment (0)

Living History

This past weekend, out-going SLDN executive director Dixon Osburn (pictured, with the cast of Showtime's The L Word at SLDN's national dinner) sat down with reporter Bob Roehr for an in-depth conversation about the organization, lifting the ban and the history of the LGBT civil rights movement. The result is a must-read interview in this week's issue of Windy City Times. From Bob's story: “People ask, ‘How did you start it?’ I say, ‘Very naively,” Osburn replies with the self-deprecating humor that has helped to make him so effective. Another veterans’ group loaned them office space for three months and, after that, they were on their own. “Had you told me 13 years ago you are going to run a $3 million organization, and galvanize a community on this issue, and get a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs [of Staff] to speak up, I would have said you’re crazy,” he said. “But it’s been a blast.” SLDN “was very entrepreneurial, very scrappy,” Osburn said. “We really did burn the midnight oil, scrapping together the money and slowly growing, thinking very carefully about what we could do with the funds. It was primarily helping soldiers and trying to educate the public.” They kept the pressure on the Pentagon, highlighting violations of its own policy within the ranks, and putting human faces to the travesty of the policy—the destruction of careers and, in the case of Barry Winchell, his brutal murder at the hands of a homophobe, which the Army at first tried to deny. “All of a sudden you had a debate going about what Don’t Ask Don’t Tell really means and does,” says Osburn. “Over 13 years, public opinion shifted dramatically in our favor—from a bare majority in 1993 in our favor to 79 percent today.” Little of that would have happened had it not been for SLDN. ____ You can read Bob's full interview online here. - Steve Ralls

Labels: in the news, Osburn

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05-03-07 Comment (0)

Paying My Rent

Labels: kathleen debold

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05-02-07 Comment (0)

Thank You, Rep. Andrews!

On Thursday April 26th Representative Rob Andrews (D 1st - NJ) signed on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 1246, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (MREA). As most of you know, if enacted, this legislation would replace "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" with an open service policy that respects all our service members. I am a constituent of Representative Andrews (pictured) and am thrilled that he recognizes how damaging this policy is to both our readiness in a time of war and our service members serving under the policy. MREA was originally introduced in the 109th Congress. I, along with many others, have worked hard since then to bring Representative Andrews on as a co-sponsor. We have made numerous phone calls to Representative Andrews' district and Washington offices. We have organized a letter writing campaign coinciding with JAG interviews on the campus of Rutgers Law School which is in Representative Andrew's district. And eventually I met with the Representative in person to discuss the bill. When I met with him I told him my personal story. I served in the 82nd Airborne from 1991-1993 during the time the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was introduced. On the day the policy was adopted my company commander declared during evening formation that if there were any "faggots in his company, he would kill them himself." I also shared with Representative Andrews my colleagues' accounts of long careers ruined and unit cohesion destroyed because of witch hunts under the policy. Finally, I emphasized to Representative Andrews the policy's harmful effects to our national security, in a time of war when critical specialties are desperately needed. Representative Andrews' decision to co-sponsor H.R. 1246 is evidence of his dedication to equality and a strong national defense. His decision shows respect for the professionalism of our armed forces and recognizes the military's historic role as a leader in civil rights. I applaud Representative Andrews for his decision to sign on as a co-sponsor. I encourage all of you to reach out to your Representative and encourage them to do so as well. - Matt Rudolphi

Labels: Congress, legislation, rob andrews, veterans, your stories

05-02-07 Comment (1)

Our Thoughts Are With Carol

Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun (pictured), a long-time advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members (and a former SLDN national dinner keynote speaker) was mugged outside of her home in Chicago on Friday. From the Associated Press: Former U.S. senator and presidential candidate Carol Moseley Braun suffered a broken wrist when a mugger tried to steal her purse, authorities said Saturday. Braun, 59, was standing at her front door late Friday when an assailant came out of the bushes and tried to take her purse, said her spokesman, Kevin Lampe. When Braun resisted, the man pulled a knife and cut the strap of the purse. During the struggle, Braun fell, fracturing her left wrist. She was later treated and a released from a hospital. Braun, a Democrat, became the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992, serving one term. She lost her re-election bid to Peter Fitzgerald in 1998. After her defeat, President Clinton appointed her ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. She made a run for the presidency in 2004. All of us at SLDN wish Ambassador Braun a speedy recovery. - Steve Ralls

Labels: carol moseley braun, in the news

05-02-07 Comment (1)

One Who Will Not Be Stopped

Congratulations to SLDN interim executive director Kathleen DeBold, who will be honored as one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Women's e-News on May 22. Kathleen has been chosen as one of "Seven Who Will Not Be Stopped." She'll be honored for her work as executive director of the Mautner Project. Learn more about the award ceremony here; and more about Kathleen's pioneering work on women's health here. All of us at SLDN are enormously proud of Kathleen. Please join us in saluting her for her amazing contributions to our community, and so many causes near and dear to our hearts. - Steve Ralls

Labels: kathleen debold

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04-30-07 Comment (0)

SLDN to Co-Present ‘Semper Fi’ at SF Film Festival

SLDN is proud to partner with Frameline to co-present Semper Fi: One Marine's Journey at the Frameline Festival in San Francisco, June 14-24, 2007. Semper Fi is the story of Jeff Key (pictured), a gay marine from Parrish, Alabama, and his crisis of conscience while serving in Iraq. Key is a former SLDN client, and the film is based on his critically acclaimed one-man play, The Eyes of Babylon. From Frameline: "Lance Corporal Jeff Key is one of the most patriotic people you'll ever meet. A gay man from Alabama, he felt there was something missing in his life, so, at age 34, he joined the Marines. They bent the rules to accommodate his age, but he kept his homosexuality a secret. Semper Fi blends documentary and interview footage with Key’s one-man theater performance about his tour of duty in Iraq as a closeted gay soldier. Semper Fi paints a refreshing portrait of a gay man we rarely meet and proves that patriotism, like sexuality, comes in many different packages." For more information about the Frameline Festival, click here. And check here at Frontlines for more information, including dates and times, soon. - Steve Ralls

Labels: arts

04-30-07 Comment (1)

In New Hampshire, Tackling Civil Unions & DA, DT

As same-sex couples in New Hampshire celebrate the recent passage of civil unions legislation there, questions are being raised about the impact of the bill on lesbian and gay military members. From Foster's, in New Hampshire: For some lawmakers and observers, the state Senate's Thursday passage of the civil unions bill signaled the beginning of legal and other challenges, including its effect on the New Hampshire National Guard. "The bottom line is I believe that civil unions will endanger the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," Wakefield Sen. Joseph Kenney, who joined nine other Republicans voting against measure, said in an interview after the vote. Kenney, who served in Iraq with the Marines, said the military could learn of soldiers' civil unions through public town reports that list marriages, births and deaths, but added that someone who "values their military career" would not enter a union. Military rules prohibit soldiers from being openly gay or lesbian, however, it will not ask for any sexual orientation. Soldiers found to be openly gay or lesbian could face expulsion, according to military policy. Civil unions pose concerns from the perspective of "combat effectiveness, morale and unit cohesion," Kenney said. Democrat Jim Splaine, an openly gay representative from Portsmouth, said Kenney's comments highlight the need for the military to overturn the current "don't ask, don't tell" policy. "I'm amazed a state senator would use an argument like this," he said, noting "there's way too much paranoia around" the bill. You can read the full debate in the New Hampshire press here, and learn the real story about civil unions & "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the SLDN Survival Guide. - Steve Ralls

Labels: in the news, new hampshire

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04-27-07 Comment (0)