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03-16-09
Poor Little Lambs
By Carol Joynt
Washington DC Columnist
New York Social Diary
Saturday night was the annual fundraising dinner for the group who want to repeal the military "Don't ask/Don't tell" law. The organization, called the Services Members Legal Defense Network, is a hard-working non-profit run by my neighbor and friend Aubrey Sarvis, who asked me to be the evening's M.C. I did that and also brought my digital for New York Social Diary. In other words, I wore two hats. The gala was in the impressive National Building Museum, a cavernous 19th hall that graces any event with historic grandeur.
The SLDN staff may be small, but there are many supporters of the cause, and not only gays and lesbians, and not only ex-military. There's support among military establishment, too, who see the need for an open door to all men and women who want to enlist.
The keynote speaker was U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett, who began with this:
"I would like to start with a story, a piece of history ... a young Catholic man who loved his country so passionately that he enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, served 3 tours in Vietnam, won a Bronze Star and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received in Da Nang.
"If you walk through the Congressional Cemetery in D.C. you will find the end of this story. The tombstone reads: WHEN I WAS IN THE MILITARY THEY GAVE ME A MEDAL FOR KILLING TWO MEN AND A DISCHARGE FOR LOVING ONE."
Barnett identified the man, Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, "the most famous gay man in the country in the 1970s."
Barnett, who attended with his wife, Celia, said, "We have many threats on the horizon. We need a strong military. It is my contention that America grows stronger when we are true to the American Revolution of expanding individual rights. And if we expand rights to gay and lesbian service members, we will make our military stronger too."
Barnett identified the man, Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, "the most famous gay man in the country in the 1970s."
Barnett, who attended with his wife, Celia, said, "We have many threats on the horizon. We need a strong military. It is my contention that America grows stronger when we are true to the American Revolution of expanding individual rights. And if we expand rights to gay and lesbian service members, we will make our military stronger too."
The dinner was down in size by about a quarter from last year. Still, it was well attended, and robust with good food and wine. The program opened with an appearance from Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye, himself an Army veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Sarvis, in his speech, challenged the White House and Congress. "We will see the day when this waste of talent ends. The country wants it, you want it, I want it. Now it's up to Congress to take some courage from the American people and just do it."
New York Social Diary: SLDN National Dinner
Poor Little Lambs
By Carol Joynt
Washington DC Columnist
New York Social Diary
Saturday night was the annual fundraising dinner for the group who want to repeal the military "Don't ask/Don't tell" law. The organization, called the Services Members Legal Defense Network, is a hard-working non-profit run by my neighbor and friend Aubrey Sarvis, who asked me to be the evening's M.C. I did that and also brought my digital for New York Social Diary. In other words, I wore two hats. The gala was in the impressive National Building Museum, a cavernous 19th hall that graces any event with historic grandeur.
The SLDN staff may be small, but there are many supporters of the cause, and not only gays and lesbians, and not only ex-military. There's support among military establishment, too, who see the need for an open door to all men and women who want to enlist.
The keynote speaker was U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett, who began with this:
"I would like to start with a story, a piece of history ... a young Catholic man who loved his country so passionately that he enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, served 3 tours in Vietnam, won a Bronze Star and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received in Da Nang.
"If you walk through the Congressional Cemetery in D.C. you will find the end of this story. The tombstone reads: WHEN I WAS IN THE MILITARY THEY GAVE ME A MEDAL FOR KILLING TWO MEN AND A DISCHARGE FOR LOVING ONE."
Barnett identified the man, Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, "the most famous gay man in the country in the 1970s."
Barnett, who attended with his wife, Celia, said, "We have many threats on the horizon. We need a strong military. It is my contention that America grows stronger when we are true to the American Revolution of expanding individual rights. And if we expand rights to gay and lesbian service members, we will make our military stronger too."
Barnett identified the man, Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, "the most famous gay man in the country in the 1970s."
Barnett, who attended with his wife, Celia, said, "We have many threats on the horizon. We need a strong military. It is my contention that America grows stronger when we are true to the American Revolution of expanding individual rights. And if we expand rights to gay and lesbian service members, we will make our military stronger too."
The dinner was down in size by about a quarter from last year. Still, it was well attended, and robust with good food and wine. The program opened with an appearance from Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye, himself an Army veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Sarvis, in his speech, challenged the White House and Congress. "We will see the day when this waste of talent ends. The country wants it, you want it, I want it. Now it's up to Congress to take some courage from the American people and just do it."
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