SLDN Week in Review: January 30 - February 3, 2012
SLDN Client Set to Meet with Boehner Staff on DOMA. In December, CW2 Charlie Morgan, a plaintiff in SLDN's lawsuit challenging the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and three other federal statutes, wrote a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) urging him to decline to defend the case, should it come before his Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group for a decision. After a number of unsuccessful attempts by CW2 Morgan to schedule a meeting, Andrea Stone of the Huffington Post requested comment from the Speaker's office in the course of doing a story on the issue. Her piece, which may be found here, resulted in the scheduling of a meeting for CW2 Morgan in Washington, DC next week. Get those details here in a follow up piece by the Huffington Post.
SLDN Ramps Up Pressure on the Pentagon. This week, SLDN called on Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to take immediate action on equal recognition, benefits and family support for gay and lesbian service members as we passed the one-year anniversary of the release of Department of Defense policy guidance on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) and the commitment from senior Pentagon leaders to study this issue and create a path to equality for all service members. To read the news release, click here.
SPLC Files Lawsuit. This week, the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a new lawsuit, Cooper-Harris v. U.S., that seeks equal recognition, support, and benefits for a disabled veteran and her same-gender spouse. SLDN supports this suit and released this statement.
SLDN on the Road. SLDN's Government Affairs Director Jeremy Wilson-Simerman and Legal Director David McKean attended the annual Creating Change conference in Baltimore last weekend. Jeremy writes in this blog about his presentation to conference attendees about the work remaining to be done to achieve full LGBT equality in the armed forces.
SLDN Board Member Mourns the Loss of David Guy-Gainer. The staff, board, and Military Advisory Council of SLDN were saddened to learn this week of the passing of a board member and stalwart advocate for LGBT equality in the military. Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis released this statement on Friday.
02-03-12 By Zeke Stokes, SLDN Communications Director |
