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Supporters Rally In Washington for Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
WASHINGTON, DC – Hundreds of veterans and activists from across the country will gather in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol Building on Friday March 7th to urge that Congress pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), a Congressional bill to repeal the ban on lesbians, gays and bisexuals serving openly in the military. The rally, made up of representatives from twenty-five states and the District of Columbia, coincides with Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s (SLDN) sixth annual lobby days.
“Americans from across the country are joining together this week to tell Congressional leaders that we care about how our military treats the brave men and women who choose to serve and defend our nation,” said SLDN executive Director Aubrey Sarvis. “This is about constituents putting lawmakers on notice. Congressional support of repeal legislation will be an issue Americans take into account when they go to the polls in November.”
The 12:30pm rally, which will be held at the West Front Center Grassy Area of the U.S. Capitol, will feature Congresswomen Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Shelley Berkley (D-NV), SLDN Military Advisory Council members Major General Vance Coleman, USA (Ret.) and Chaplain Colonel Paul Dodd, USA (Ret.), SLDN board member Jackie Gardina, Command Master Chief Jennifer Paty, USN (Ret.) and former Army Captain Austin Rooke, as well as SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis.
“In 1993 Congress passed this law, and now, in 2008, it is up to Congress to repeal this terrible law,” Sarvis said. “We hope that this large public event lets Congress know that Americans are serious about repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”
Reintroduced in February 2007, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act currently has the support of 141 bi-partisan Members of Congress. The bill will repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and replace it with a policy of non-discrimination.
For more information and event details, visit www.sldn.org.
Media interested in attending should contact Victor Maldonado at (202) 328-3244 ext. 123 or email at vmaldonado@sldn.org
