Rally Shows the Time for Repeal is Now
It may have been a cold day here in Washington, D.C., but the energy was high at the Freedom to Serve rally. Folks came from far and wide to participate in the event. When Zoe Dunning, former Navy Commander and current SLDN board co-chair, called upon individuals in the crowd to shout out their home state, the responses spanned the entirety of the country. Virginia! California! Connecticut! Wisconsin!
And judging by reactions during and after the event, it was well worth the trip. Rousing speeches and lively chants kept the crowd fully engaged.
What do we want? The freedom to serve! When do we want it? Now!
What do we want? The freedom to serve! When do we want it? Now!
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) was a standout among an impressive lineup of speakers. With every line she received a roar of approval from the crowd. Playing off the name of the disastrous law we're fighting to repeal, Rep. Norton declared: "I'm done asking! And I'm telling!"
We're not asking for repeal any longer, we're telling Congress and President Obama that the time for repeal is now. And this isn't just about fairness and job discrimination, Rep. Norton noted, but also the strength of our military. Thousands of gay men and women want to serve the country they love, but are turned away each and every day. The time for repeal is now.
At the end of the day, rally participants raved that the speakers hit all the right notes - unique stories, diverse perspectives, humor, gravity, emotional highs and lows - and were left wanting more. "What's next?" asked a number of folks in the crowd. "What's next?" That's exactly what you want to hear after an event like this.
What's next is that we all need to take action and urge our members of Congress to cosponsor the Military Readiness Enhancement Act by clicking here.
We all need to encourage our friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors to do the same. We all need to harness the energy from today and stay on offense so that next year we won't need to hold a rally to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - because we'll already have done it.
All photos taken by Judy G. Rolfe.
03-13-09 By Benjamin Mishkin, SLDN Grassroots Organizer |
2 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Colleen Hurd in Springfield, VT on March 16, 2009 at 10.28 pm
I am very proud to have been a part of SLDN’s Lobby Day and Rally in Washington this year. I met so many wonderful, down-to-earth people who are fighting the good fight; some of the most patriotic people I have ever met.
Congresswoman Norton’s speech had me in tears - I was so moved by her appreciation of the service of our gay veterans and military members. My service; I had never felt that before.
Here’s hoping next year’s rally will be a celebration of the long-overdue end to this ban!
Gabriel Cilluffo in Oklahoma City, OK on March 14, 2009 at 09.27 pm
I am very excited about this gaining momentum everywhere. I was discharged under this policy, and I still want to serve my country, and have over the six years it is has been since I was discharged. I know I am not alone and I support those of you who are able to be in public events such as this rally.