Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

SLDN in Atlanta

October has been a great month for SLDN in Atlanta! I joined the Board of Directors this past summer, and arranged for Sharra Greer to be our guest speaker at Atlanta’s annual GLBT attorney's dinner on October 18th. Sharra graciously accepted and delivered a dynamic talk to about 175 lawyers and Judges, providing an insightful perspective into SLDN’s critical work and eloquently explaining why the gays-in-the-military issue matters to Georgians. Sharra’s message was very well received, as will it ought to be. Georgia is home to over 33,000 gay and lesbian Veterans, according to the Washington, DC think-tank the Urban Institute. The following evening, October 19th, my life partner Kevin and I hosted an SLDN fundraiser at our home at which we honored two special local heroes, Atlanta City Council Woman Ann Fauver and openly gay World War II Veteran Jack Strouss. Ann, who is openly lesbian, was presented with the SLDN Atlanta Leadership Award for her sponsorship of a resolution passed by the Atlanta City Council calling on Congress to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. This distinguished Atlanta as the first city in the deep south to pass such a resolution, and evidences SLDN’s growing grassroots support for repealing the ban. Jack was presented with the SLDN Atlanta Service Award for his service and sacrifice for our nation as part of the “greatest generation”. Jack shared the story of how his troop carrier was sunk by a German submarine as it traveled across the English channel carrying him and hundreds of other soldiers towards the shores of Normandy. Jack was one of the few who survived, which allowed him to continue in the fight against Nazi tyranny and, later, to become the apple of many a GI’s eye as he played the piano in the enlisted men’s clubs during the later Allied occupation. This represents a terrific beginning to SLDN’s new presence in Atlanta. Atlanta is a city that beams brightly as a beacon of acceptance of GLBT people, and those many of us who – despite being “deep in the heart of Dixie” – are living our lives out and proud take great comfort in the knowledge that our efforts and example are truly making a difference in our community’s fight for the Freedom to Serve. Click here to find out about upcomming SLDN events in your community! -Jeff Cleghorn -----

10-26-07