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Columbus Mayor Joins Marriage Campaign, Credits SLDN Client for Influencing Decision
For immediate release: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Contact: Zeke Stokes at (202) 621-5406 or zeke@sldn.org
(Columbus, OH) In his annual State of the City address tonight, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman recognized an SLDN client, Captain Steve Hill, with whom he met personally in recent weeks and has acknowledged is among the factors influencing his decision to join "Mayors for the Freedom to Marry," a national, broad-based, and nonpartisan group of mayors who support an end to marriage discrimination. Hill and his husband, Joshua Snyder, were invited to attend the speech as special guests of the mayor.
Hill is an Army reservist with more than eighteen years of service, who just returned from active duty in the Middle East. He and Snyder reside in Columbus, OH, where Hill is the director of the Columbus Public Health WIC Program for Franklin County. Hill drew national attention in September 2011 when he submitted a question via You Tube that was used during a Fox News/Google Republican Presidential Debate to question the candidates about the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT).
"Courage is in no short supply to those who risk their lives so that we may live ours - those who serve in our military. One veteran's story in particular is a demonstration of courage not only on the battlefield, but on the field of every day American life," said Coleman as he recognized Hill in his remarks. “He defended other people’s freedom but not his own, because he was gay and could not tell anybody or be discharged from the Army he loved.”
"People recognize courage. So did his fellow soldiers, his commander, people who up to that day did not know he was gay. But they stood by him. Captain Hill, we stand by you," Coleman said.
Hill and Snyder are plaintiffs in a landmark lawsuit filed by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) in October 2011 on behalf of eight married gay and lesbian service members and veterans. The suit challenges the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and three additional federal statutes that preclude the military from providing equal benefits to all military families. Today, Army Veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis hailed Coleman's remarks and his decision to support marriage equality.
"Mayor Coleman of Columbus is living proof that once decision makers and the American people learn that service members and their families who provide the same service, take the same risks and make the same sacrifices are being treated unfairly, minds are changed. At SLDN, we are proud that Captain Steve Hill and the other plaintiffs in our federal court challenge are making a difference on this issue," he said.
"After hearing why marriage matters to gay and lesbian couples, their kids, and their kin from Captain Hill, along with more than 1,000 constituents, Mayor Coleman joined America's majority for marriage and became one of our Mayors for the Freedom to Marry," said Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry. "Now he will help make the case and open more hearts, talking about how ending marriage discrimination helps families and hurts no one."
For more information on Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, visit www.freedomtomarry.org/mayors.
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.
SLDN FREE HOTLINE: 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.
