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Veterans & Activists to Rally in Washington for Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

WHAT: A Capitol Hill rally in Washington, D.C., to support legislative efforts to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. The rally coincides with Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s (SLDN) fifth annual lobby days, organized to support The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1247), a Congressional bill to repeal the ban on open service.

WHO: Hundreds of veterans and activists from across the country will be joined by a line-up of speakers, including Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), CAPT Joan E. Darrah, USN (Ret.), Marine Sergeant and Iraq War Veteran Brian Fricke, Patricia Kutteles, mother of slain PFC Barry Winchell, and C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of SLDN. (A comprehensive list of speakers is available at www.sldn.org.)

WHY: Since 1993, the Department of Defense has dismissed more than 11,600 service personnel under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” including nearly 800 with ‘mission-critical’ skills. Every day, another two service members are fired under the law. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act would repeal the law and allow lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans to serve openly in the U.S. armed forces.

WHEN: Monday, March 26, 2007 ● 3pm

WHERE: U.S. Capitol ● West Front Center Grassy Area

Media interested in attending should contact Steve Ralls at (202) 328-3244, or by email at sralls@sldn.org.

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