Latest News

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Welcomes Rep. Murphy to 18th Annual Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2010

CONTACT: Paul DeMiglio
PHONE: (202) 621-5408 (office)

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Welcomes Rep. Murphy to 18th Annual Dinner
Michelle Clunie and Decorated Service Members, Veterans Join Lineup of Special Guests

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network announced that it will host its 18th Annual National Dinner on March 20, 2010 to honor our nation’s LGBT patriots and build on current momentum to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year. Special guests will include keynote speaker Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), actor Michelle Clunie, and decorated veterans from all branches of the armed services who have been impacted by DADT.

“Given that DADT repeal is a front burner issue, this year’s dinner will be especially timely,” said Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN executive director. “We look forward to celebrating the historic progress made over the past few months in our march toward overturning the ban. We are truly honored to have Rep. Murphy, the repeal quarterback in the House of Representatives, as the keynote speaker. His commitment, passion, and results have inspired us and many, straight and gay, in the military community.”

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, made a historic call for open service last month, saying, “I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, personally, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.” Since then, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Colin Powell, Gen. Raymond Odierno, Ret. Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, Gen. David Petraeus and former Vice President Dick Cheney are supporting the Gates/Mullen approach.

“‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ drains our military of the talent it needs during a time of two wars,” Sarvis said. “This is the urgency – qualified men and women should not be discharged. This is the year to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and to do so through the defense authorization bill.”

As lead sponsor of HR 1283 (the Military Readiness Enhancement Act), legislation that repeals “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and replaces it with a policy of nondiscrimination, Rep. Murphy has helped add more than 30 new supporters for an unprecedented total of 188 cosponsors of the bill. Murphy brings unique military experience to the repeal debate as the first Iraq War veteran to be elected to Congress.

Michelle Clunie, best known for her starring role in the hit Showtime series Queer As Folk, will be among the lineup of special guests. Clunie most recently starred in the award-winning indie Leaving Barstow and has a new recurring role on the ABC family drama, Make It or Break It.

In addition to Clunie, SLDN expects other surprise celebrity guests. More information is coming soon.

SLDN will also be hosting a Lobby Day, noon Friday, March 19, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to generate support for repeal legislation.

To RSVP for the National Dinner or Lobby Day, click here.

Since 1993, SLDN has been on the forefront of the repeal fight as the only organization solely dedicated to offering free legal services to military personnel hurt by this discriminatory law and working to end the ban.”

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (www.sldn.org) is a national, non-profit legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”A Journalist’s Guide is available here.

Click here to read the original article.