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SLDN Statement on Appointment of Retired Army Reserve Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2010
Trevor Thomas: (616) 430-2030 or trevor@sldn.org
Paul DeMiglio: (202) 621-5408 or pdemiglio@sldn.org

SLDN Statement on Appointment of Retired Army Reserve Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer
Col. Cammermeyer will serve on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), released a statement today on the Administration’s appointment of retired Army Reserve Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). Col. Cammermeyer also serves on the Military Advisory Council for SLDN.

“Col. Cammermeyer’s appointment represents a step forward as we continue to push for lesbians and gays to serve openly in our armed forces,” said Zoe Dunning, co-chair of the board of directors for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. “At the time of her separation from the military, Col. Cammermeyer served as Chief Nurse of the Washington State National Guard. Despite an exemplary military and civilian record, her sexual orientation was discovered during an interview for top-secret clearance. ’Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ strips the military of our best for simply being who they are – it’s not only discrimination but it’s weakening our national security.”

“The President and Under Secretary of Defense Clifford Stanley chose wisely in appointing Col. Cammermeyer,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. “She is an outstanding American and eminently qualified for this panel. Our country will benefit greatly from this appointment. For years we have taken enormous pride in Col. Cammermeyer being an active member of our Military Advisory Council; we are especially pleased to see that the White House and the Defense Department will also be benefiting from the vast expertise and rich experiences that Col. Cammermeyer brings to this body.”

For biographical information on Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer visit: http://www.sldn.org/pages/sldn-council-margarethe-cammermeyer

For the latest on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” visit: http://bit.ly/9YT7B0

Background on the committee from the Department of Defense:

The committee, established in 1951 during the Korean War by Secretary of Defense George C. Marshall, is an independent advisory committee that provides the department with advice and recommendations on matters and policies relating to the recruitment and retention, treatment, employment, integration, and well-being of highly qualified professional women in the armed forces.

DACOWITS members include prominent civilian women and men representing a distribution of demography, academia, industry, public service and other professions. Selection is on the basis of experience in the military, or with women’s-related workforce issues.

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 journalists’ guide is available here.

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