Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

A. Lott : Like Superman

Today I learned that one of my heroes in the movement to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will receive an award from the Rhode Island Psychological Association for his many years of dedicated advocacy on that issue. That hero is Dr. Al Lott (pictured), Professor Emeritus at the University of Rhode Island and far and away SLDN’s most active volunteer in the Ocean State. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and to look at Al Lott, you wouldn’t peg him for a hero. Al is an older gentleman, not a whole lot taller than me, with a kind face and a warm smile. When I took a road trip to do some grassroots organizing in the northeast last year, he and his lovely wife gave my daughter cookies and milk in their kitchen while Al and I sat at the table strategizing. In his corduroy blazer with the patches on the elbow, “superman” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you look at him. But Al is a lot like superman. With dogged determination he has pursued the goal of equality for LGBT service members, successfully advocating before the University of Rhode Island faculty senate for a resolution calling for repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” meeting with Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation and their staffs to present the facts and figures on why repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is good public policy, manning Pride tables and coordinating volunteers in Rhode Island for SLDN, writing opinion pieces and coordinating local media to educate people about the need for repeal. Every time I meet with Al I tell him this, and I will say it again: If we had someone like Al Lott in each of the 50 states, I’d be out of a job by now. Many people may not know that Al is a World War II veteran. He fought for freedom before I was a gleam in my mother’s eye. I felt honored when Al chose to spend his 80th birthday with SLDN on Capitol Hill for one on our annual lobby days. So on this occasion of Al’s receipt of the Musiker-Merenda award, I just want to say congratulations and thank you to Al Lott. You’re one of my heroes, and you inspire me. I hope when I am 80 years old, I’ll still be fighting as hard as you are. - Sharon Alexander

Labels: in the news, sldn volunteers

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11-01-07