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Tipper Gore to Speak at Event Honoring Openly Gay Iraq War Medic

WASHINGTON, DC – Tipper Gore, Ambassador Michael Guest, and Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) will be among the speakers at the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) 16th annual national dinner. The event, which will honor Army Sergeant Darren Manzella, will take place at 6:30pm Saturday, March 8th at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Manzella, an openly gay medic featured on the December 16th edition of the CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes, will accept the group’s Barry Winchell Courage Award. The award, named for the slain Army Private First Class whose murder in 1999 sparked national outrage and debate over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” is given in recognition of a man or woman who has shown courage in speaking openly and honestly about the plight of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service personnel.

“We are enormously proud to honor Darren for his honesty, integrity and service to our country,’” said SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis. “Darren is living proof of something we have long known -- lesbian, gay and bisexual troops are serving now, and have always served, in our armed forces. And when they speak openly and honestly, their colleagues and commanders are ready to accept them.”

The dinner, which in the past has included such guests as Cybil Sheppard, Pam Greer, Marlee Matlin, Ambassador Carol Mosley-Braun, and Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, the Army’s first female 3-star general, caps off SLDN’s 6th annual lobby days. Award-winning blogger Pam Spaulding will be providing live coverage of the March 8th dinner on her site www.pamshouseblend.com. More information and event tickets are available online at www.sldn.org.

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