News Archive
Colin Powell Reiterates Support for Review of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
In an interview with CNN Thursday, former secretary of State and retired general Colin Powell once again reiterated his support for a military review of the U.S. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, which prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. "We should be re-evaluating it," he said. General Powell's evolving views on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" are the source of much interest on Capitol Hill precisely because people think he holds so much sway inside the Beltway. However, his comments to CNN do not represent a change of position. In fact, they parallel those he made at the Aspen Institute in July, when he endorsed reviewing the law but stopped short of calling for its repeal. ...Read More
Will Obama Press for End to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?”
In this occasional series, National Public Radio (NPR) follows the transition to a new administration through a series of stories, conversations, commentaries and essays that outline the issues and challenges facing the new president. From a broken military to a troubled ecnomy - NPR provides the briefing paper, the options and the obstacles. In today's edition, NPR examines the willingness of President-elect Obama to lift the ban on open service for LGBT Americans, with a focus on changing social attitudes over the past 15 years, levels of opposition, and legislative momentum in the new Congress. "I would say, continue to reach out to the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs," advises Aubrey Sarvis, who heads the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, "to seek a favorable recommendation from them for the House bill." ...Read More
Let Our Willing Citizens Serve Our Country First
The Pentagon must be trying its hand at parody with last week's news, as reported by the Associated Press: Struggling to find enough doctors, nurse and linguists for the war effort, the Pentagon will temporarily recruit foreigners who have been living in the United States on student and works visas, or with refugee or political asylum status. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has authorized the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps to recruit certain legal residents whose critical medical and language skill are "vital to the national interest," AP reported. The services can now start a one-year pilot program to find up to 1,000 foreigners who have lived in the U.S. legally for at least two years. This "solution" is so maddening. Why? "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The counter-productive and embarrassing law continues to hurt our military efforts as it discriminates against those who would honorably serve our country. According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, since the law's 1994 implementation, more than 12,500 women and men have been discharged. ...Read More
Don’t Ask, Don’t Discriminate
Every organization needs at least one Anna Curren. Last Thursday evening, in the opulent Mission Hills home of Bob Meinzer and Steve McIntee, Curren, who makes up for her small frame with oversized energy, climbed up a few stairs off the house's front hallway and went to work encouraging the two-dozen or so assembled guests to dig a little deeper into their pockets. "I don't know how to do this," she said. "Ask for a show of hands? I don't want to embarrass anybody." She clearly knew how to "do this." Curren, a member of the board of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and a generous giver to liberal causes in her own right, was asking the guests to go beyond the price they paid just to drink wine and nibble on abundant appetizers, and she was vowing to match whatever amount was pledged that night, including the $7,500 McIntee and Meinzer gave the day before. The cause? The SLDN's renewed campaign to repeal the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. ...Read More
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Possible
The election of US President-elect Barack Obama could lead to the repeal of the US military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, according to experts. Aubrey Sarvis, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director, said that with Obama speaking out against the controversial military policy during his presidential run, hopes are high regarding a possible repeal of the 1993 law, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. "I think the election of Barack Obama is a sea change in terms of moving the issue forward," Sarvis stated. "I think Don't Ask, Don't Tell can be repealed in the next Congress." ...Read More
Battle Ahead over ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
Last month, President-elect Barack Obama and nearly 30 new congressional Democrats were elected, giving activists hope that the 15-year-old law can be overturned. "I think the election of Barack Obama is a sea change in terms of moving the issue forward," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which is dedicated to ending the law and assisting military personnel affected by it. "I think 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' can be repealed in the next Congress." ...Read More
SLDN Pleased Major Witt will have Day in Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled December 4 that it would not reconsider a prior ruling that raised constitutional doubts about the application of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the federal statute banning open service in the military based on sexual orientation. In its ruling, the federal appeals court denied the Air Force's bid for a rehearing of a May 21 decision reviving a suit by Major Margaret Witt in Washington State who was discharged because she is a lesbian. ...Read More
Court’s Ruling Stands on ‘Don’t Ask’ Doubts
A federal appeals court refused Thursday to reconsider a ruling that raised doubts about the constitutionality of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on military personnel based on sexual orientation, a decision that could give President-elect Barack Obama a chance to act quickly on his promise to repeal the law. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco denied the Air Force's request for a rehearing of a May 21 decision reviving a suit by a female officer in Washington state who was discharged because she had a relationship with another woman. The three-judge panel in that decision said the U.S. Supreme Court's 2003 ruling overturning state laws against gay sex established a new level of constitutional protection for gays and lesbians. Under that standard, the appeals court said, the military can't automatically discharge all openly gay soldiers, but must prove in each case that dismissal would promote troop readiness or unit cohesion. ...Read More
SLDN Welcomes Congresswoman Susan Davis to San Diego Reception
Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA) joined Servicemembers Legal Defense Network on Thursday to discuss how the new Congress and administration can play a role in helping to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis provided comments on President-elect Barack Obama's recent appointments and the implications they could have on the DADT debate. Former Army Sergeant Darren Manzella was a special guest speaker at the event. Hosting the reception were SLDN Board Members Anna Curren and Michael Magee, along with hosts Col. Stewart Bornhoft, USA (Ret.) and Fmr. Lt. Stephen McNabb, USN. Dr. Arthur J. Kelleher, MC, USNR (Ret.), Mike Kirkeby, Robert P. Meinzer Jr. & Stephen D. McIntee, and Todd Stevens were also present. ...Read More
Do or Die for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Gay rights activist with an actor-model-author hyphenate, Reichen Lehmkuhl kicks off his Advocate.com column with a blunt look at the state of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," promises made by President-elect Obama, and why gay Americans can't let the passing of Prop. 8 distract us from continuing to fight to overturn the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. One organization, he says, has its arms around all of these issues -- the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. ...Read More
