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30 Days of Pride!
For immediate release:
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Contact: Zeke Stokes at (202) 621-5406 or zeke@sldn.org
30 Days of Pride!
SLDN launches month-long initiative profiling those making a difference today in the fight for full LGBT military equality
(Washington, DC) Servicemembers Legal Defense Network today launched a month-long campaign, 30 Days of Pride, that will profile individuals and organizations making a difference today in the fight for full LGBT military equality. The campaign will feature a new profile per day throughout the month of June - LGBT Pride Month - and begins June 1 by spotlighting the plaintiffs in SLDN's landmark litigation, McLaughlin v. U.S. The lawsuit, filed in October 2011, challenges the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and three other federal statutes that may be interpreted to preclude the military from providing equal recognition, support, and benefits to the families of gay and lesbian service members and veterans.
"The McLaughlin plaintiffs are trailblazers in the fight for full LGBT equality for all service members, veterans, and their families, and we are pleased to kickoff this Pride month celebration by highlighting their heroic fight in the courts. These couples are in long term, committed, and legally recognized marriages, and the military should not be forced to turn its back on them because the federal government refuses to recognize their marriages," said Army Veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis.
Together, the plaintiffs represent 159 years of military service; serve in the Army, Air Force, Navy and National Guard; and as couples, have been together for a total of 79 years. To view their profiles, click here.
In addition to posting a new profile each day, SLDN will be on the road at LGBT Pride celebrations across the U.S. throughout the month of June. These include Honolulu, Boston, Denver, New Orleans, and New York City. For a complete listing, click here.
ABOUT SLDN: Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) is a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services and policy organization dedicated to bringing about full LGBT equality to America's military and ending all forms of discrimination and harassment of military personnel on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. SLDN provides free and direct legal assistance to service members and veterans affected by the repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and the prior regulatory ban on open service, as well as those currently serving who may experience harassment or discrimination. Since 1993, our in-house legal team has responded to more than 11,500 requests for assistance. To learn more, visit www.sldn.org. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members with questions are urged to contact the SLDN hotline to speak with a staff attorney: Call 1-800-538-7418 or 202-328-3244 x100.
