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OutServe-SLDN Leaders Set to Headline Supreme Court Rally
For immediate release:
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Contact: Zeke Stokes at
202-621-5406 or zeke@outserve-sldn.org
OutServe-SLDN’s Allyson Robinson Among Headline Speakers at Supreme Court Rally Set for Tuesday
Will appear alongside Casey McLaughlin, lead plaintiff in federal court DOMA challenge by LGBT service members, veterans, and their families
(WASHINGTON DC) A gathering to support marriage equality in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 26, will feature Army Veteran and OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson, who will appear alongside Casey McLaughlin, lead plaintiff in the case, McLaughlin v. Panetta, a challenge to the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) brought by OutServe-SLDN on behalf of LGBT service members, veterans, and their families. The event, which will begin at 8:30 a.m. EDT, will include families, political leaders, and iconic civil rights and religious leaders, as well.
“I am proud to stand up for marriage next Tuesday on behalf of our nation’s LGBT military families. The repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ was the beginning of our fight for full equality, not the end, and the clear next step is for the Supreme Court to strike down the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA discriminates against our men and women in uniform, who serve and sacrifice equally but are still treated as second-class citizens by the nation they serve,” said Robinson.
“This is not just about fairness and equality; it’s also a national security issue. In order for service members to do their jobs effectively, they need to know that their families are being taken care of. Gay and lesbian troops can take no such comfort – DOMA says their families must fend for themselves,” said Robinson.
The event takes place at U.S. Supreme Court Plaza, located at First and East Capitol Streets NE in Washington, DC.
Other confirmed speakers include:
- Brendon Ayanbadejo, Super Bowl champion and Baltimore Ravens linebacker
- Wade Henderson, President, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
- The Very Rev. Gary Hall, Dean of Washington National Cathedral
- Margaret Hoover, GOP strategist and political commentator
- Nelda Majors and Karen Bailey, Phoenix couple together for more than 50 years
- David Frum, GOP strategist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush; political commentator
- Craig Stowell and his wife, Berta, Former Marine and conservative Republican
- Andy McNeil and Todd Bludworth, Fathers to twin boy and girl
- Janet Murguía, President, National Council of La Raza
- Brent Wilkes, National Executive Director, League of United Latin American Citizens
- Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights activist and host of MSNBC’s ‘PoliticsNation’
- LZ Granderson, CNN and ESPN commentator
- Lt. Col. Linda Campbell, who was granted the first same-sex spousal burial in a U.S. national cemetery for her partner
- Bishop Gene Robinson and his daughter, Ella Robinson
The event, sponsored by the United Marriage Coalition, is taking place as the Supreme Court considers two cases that are about whether gay and lesbian Americans should have the same freedoms as everyone else. Recent polling shows support for marriage equality at an all-time high – an ABC News/Washington Post poll shows support at 58 percent, while a survey from Grove Research shows that 75 percent of Americans believe the ability to marry the person you love is a Constitutional right.
Learn more about the DC gathering and local events at www.unitedformarriage.org.
To register and attend as an OutServe-SLDN supporter, click here.
About OutServe-SLDN: OutServe-SLDN is the association of actively serving LGBT military personnel with more than fifty chapters and 6000 members around the world It works to support a professional network of LGBT military personnel and create an environment of respect in the military with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity. It 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. OS-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. For more information, visit www.outserve-sldn.org.
About United for Marriage Coalition: The United for Marriage Coalition is a group of LGBT and allied organizations working to elevate the broad support for marriage equality through events in Washington, DC and across the country in advance of the Supreme Court rulings on two marriage cases. Groups leading the United for Marriage efforts include OutServe-SLDN, Family Equality Council, GetEQUAL, GLAAD, Good As You, Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality USA, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the New Organizing Institute.
