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Reel Affirmations Spotlights DADT Repeal

SLDN was honored to join Servicemembers United as a Community Partner for Reel Affirmations, DC’s International LGBT Film Festival, this weekend. The “Night of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’” featured two films shown at the U.S. Navy Memorial Burke Theater. The first, “A Marine Story,” was a realistic and personal drama about a Marine discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” as she returns home and must adapt to a new life without the Corps. The second film, “Out of Annapolis,” was a documentary featuring the stories of gay and lesbian alumni of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Following the screenings was a panel of several of the alumni featured in “Out of Annapolis,” as well as the director, alumnus Steve Clark Hall.

SLDN colleague and former Marine Lance Corporal Danny Hernandez spoke briefly about his experience being fired under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and encouraged the audience to stay involved in repeal efforts as we continue to push the Senate to pass repeal this year. The crowd included many veterans and Naval Academy alumni, as well as several SLDN Board members and other repeal advocates. We heard some of their stories at SLDN’s table during the reception, including a former Marine JAG officer and several allies who knew little about DADT before the event.

As we prepare for the Senate’s lame-duck session next month where DADT may come up again, SLDN continues to participate in local awareness events like Reel Affirmations and Speakers Bureau activities.

You can have an impact too, by sharing your story in your community and writing your senators, urging them to vote for repeal during the lame-duck session. With films like “A Marine Story” and “Out of Annapolis” touring the country and advocates speaking up at every turn, we can keep DADT on everyone’s mind in preparation for mid-November.

10-25-10 By Elizabeth Shirey, Grassroots/Policy Advocate |