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02-27-09  

SLDN Announces Special Guests for 17th Annual National Dinner & Silent Auction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2009

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

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Announces 17th Annual National Dinner & Silent Auction
White House, Members of Congress, Decorated Veterans in Attendance

WASHINGTON, DC - Today the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) announced its 17th Annual National Dinner & Silent Auction to raise awareness of the organization's efforts to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Special guests will include Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison Tina Tchen, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison Brian Bond, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Rep. Eric J.J. Massa (D-NY) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO).

"We are very pleased and honored to be joined by these individuals during a time when repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has never been more likely," said Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN executive director.

"With the new Administration and Congress, as well as the overwhelming majority of the American public on the side of repeal, we have an unprecedented opportunity to ensure that all qualified men and women have the freedom to serve openly."

The dinner will be held in Washington, DC at the National Building Museum (401 F St. NW) at 6:30 p.m. March 14, 2009. This year's Barry Winchell Courage Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of individuals who illustrate how "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" undermines military readiness, will be presented at the National Dinner.

"All service members, regardless of sexual orientation, are necessary for our fighting force to be effective, and ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' undermines the strength of our military every day that it remains in place," Sarvis said. "This odious ban depletes our armed forces of qualified men and women with the critical skills and expertise we need as we fight two wars."

Although she will not be able to attend SLDN's National Dinner, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) expressed her commitment to lift the ban.

"Repealing ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' would strengthen military readiness by allowing all qualified Americans to serve our country at a time when the armed forces are already spread too thin," Ros-Lehtinen said. "I look forward to working with the White House and my Congressional colleagues to ensure that all qualified men and women have the equal opportunity to contribute their critically needed skills and expertise to our nation's military, regardless of their sexual orientation."

The National Dinner will take place the day after SLDN hosts the Freedom to Serve rally, noon Friday, March 13, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The rally will show solidarity for all our service members and advocate for congressional action this year on the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would allow all qualified Americans to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit www.sldn.org. A "Guide to ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' " for journalists is available here.

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