You Don’t Have to Be Straight to Shoot Straight
This was one of the messages from a weekend rally here in Washington organized by Allied in Pride, George Washington University's LGBT group. The event came about after the discharge of a GW student, Todd Belok, from ROTC because he's gay.
Several of us from SLDN -- Aubrey Sarvis, David Hall, Ben Mishkin, Jeremy Wilson-Simerman, and I -- attended the 50-person rally.
Beginning at GW, we all gathered round to hear David Hall relay his own experience being kicked out of ROTC. Ben Mishkin, always one to pump up a crowd, followed by reminding the audience that DADT is the only federal law that forces employers to fire people for being gay.
We then marched the few blocks from GW to the White House. We heard impassioned speeches on how lifting the ban on the thousands of LGBT folks could ease the current strain on our stretched-too-thin military (and not to mention persistent recruitment challenges to find qualified individuals).
All in all, it was a good and promising afternoon. Lots of energy in front of the White House and several tourists taking note of the energetic chant "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Must Go!" We also got in the "Yes We Can...Serve!" spirit.
Join us at noon on March 13 for our own rally on the Capitol in Washington to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Details here.
03-01-09 By Kevin Nix, Director of Communications |
2 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Kel in OK on March 02, 2009 at 06.29 pm
Mike, we ought to lash together these types of activities with the gang over at JoinTheImpact.com
Mike Gorman in Lodi, Ca on March 01, 2009 at 11.52 pm
I’m glad there’s spirited folks in D.C. and all, but what about people in other parts of the country? It would be nice to see some lift the ban rallies at other big cities around the US. I personally can’t drop everything and get to DC and rally.