Latest News
01-15-09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2009
CONTACT:
Kevin Nix
Senior Communications Manager
(202) 621-5402, ext. 102 (office)
(202) 251-5553 (cell)
knix@sldn.org
Following Gibbs, Retired Gen. Honoré Comments, SLDN Believes Repeal of "Don't Ask" Doable in '09
SLDN Optimistic after Meeting with Obama Transition Team
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Discussions in recent days on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" have focused not on whether the law would be repealed, but when. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) believes repeal of the law is doable this year.
"We were heartened to hear the incoming Obama Administration, as well as the larger-than-life General Honoré, acknowledge that repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will happen," said Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN executive director. "In terms of timing, we think repeal is a practical expectation for 2009 -not in the first 100 days of the new Administration when the economy and foreign policy clearly take center stage - but doable this year."
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the law banning gay and lesbian Americans from serving openly in the military.
President-elect Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs last Friday spoke bluntly when asked if the new president would continue his commitment to get rid of the law. "You don't hear a politician give a one word answer much, but it's ‘yes.'" Similarly, when asked on CNN January 14 if the law needed to go, Retired General Honore, Hurricane Katrina recovery chief, answered, "It's no doubt this will happen. The question is, when?"
Earlier this week, five members of the Obama Transition Team, all members of the staff managing Department of Defense and national security issues, met with retired Flag Officers at the president-elect's headquarters in Washington. A report back on that meeting by the generals and admirals in attendance noted, "We are all highly encouraged by everything we heard. We all agreed that the opinions and recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are critical to the successful repeal of DADT. It was generally agreed that the Defense Department already has in place rules and regulations that govern conduct and interpersonal relations, and that the current anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies currently in existence for race, gender, religion and ethnicity could be easily modified to include sexual orientation. The Transition Team assured us that the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Mullen, is clearly aware of the new Commander-in-Chief's views on the issue and is currently working on it."
Since the law was instituted in 1993, 12,500 men and women have been discharged on the basis of sexual orientation. According to a 2007 report by the Williams Institute, DADT has discouraged nearly 45,000 Americans from joining and remaining in the armed forces.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is the only organization in the country dedicated solely to providing quality and free legal assistance to men and women kicked out of the military under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. Established in 1993, we are also the only full-time policy organization in Washington that is pushing for repeal of the law by Congress, the Pentagon, and the new White House. SLDN can provide diverse spokespeople to speak out in support of repealing DADT- conservative and progressive; straight and gay; military and civilian.
Following Gibbs, Gen. Honor� Comments, SLDN Believes Repeal of “Don’t Ask” Doable in ‘09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2009
CONTACT:
Kevin Nix
Senior Communications Manager
(202) 621-5402, ext. 102 (office)
(202) 251-5553 (cell)
knix@sldn.org
Following Gibbs, Retired Gen. Honoré Comments, SLDN Believes Repeal of "Don't Ask" Doable in '09
SLDN Optimistic after Meeting with Obama Transition Team
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Discussions in recent days on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" have focused not on whether the law would be repealed, but when. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) believes repeal of the law is doable this year.
"We were heartened to hear the incoming Obama Administration, as well as the larger-than-life General Honoré, acknowledge that repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will happen," said Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN executive director. "In terms of timing, we think repeal is a practical expectation for 2009 -not in the first 100 days of the new Administration when the economy and foreign policy clearly take center stage - but doable this year."
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the law banning gay and lesbian Americans from serving openly in the military.
President-elect Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs last Friday spoke bluntly when asked if the new president would continue his commitment to get rid of the law. "You don't hear a politician give a one word answer much, but it's ‘yes.'" Similarly, when asked on CNN January 14 if the law needed to go, Retired General Honore, Hurricane Katrina recovery chief, answered, "It's no doubt this will happen. The question is, when?"
Earlier this week, five members of the Obama Transition Team, all members of the staff managing Department of Defense and national security issues, met with retired Flag Officers at the president-elect's headquarters in Washington. A report back on that meeting by the generals and admirals in attendance noted, "We are all highly encouraged by everything we heard. We all agreed that the opinions and recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are critical to the successful repeal of DADT. It was generally agreed that the Defense Department already has in place rules and regulations that govern conduct and interpersonal relations, and that the current anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies currently in existence for race, gender, religion and ethnicity could be easily modified to include sexual orientation. The Transition Team assured us that the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Mullen, is clearly aware of the new Commander-in-Chief's views on the issue and is currently working on it."
Since the law was instituted in 1993, 12,500 men and women have been discharged on the basis of sexual orientation. According to a 2007 report by the Williams Institute, DADT has discouraged nearly 45,000 Americans from joining and remaining in the armed forces.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is the only organization in the country dedicated solely to providing quality and free legal assistance to men and women kicked out of the military under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. Established in 1993, we are also the only full-time policy organization in Washington that is pushing for repeal of the law by Congress, the Pentagon, and the new White House. SLDN can provide diverse spokespeople to speak out in support of repealing DADT- conservative and progressive; straight and gay; military and civilian.
