News Clips
The Saratogian: Vets’ Corner: All-volunteer force 35-years-old
Today, nearly one out of every two service members re-enlists. During the draft, only one-eighth of the force chose to "re-up," creating a military where less than 20 percent of the force had more than a few years of service. ...Read More
BU Daily Free Press: Fight for your right to fight
A School of Theology student was arrested on May 30 for his involvement in a protest of the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell policy," which prevents open homosexuals from serving in the military. ...Read More
NewsReleaseWire: Eric Alva Named NASW Public Citizen of the Year
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is pleased to name Eric Alva as the 2008 Public Citizen of the Year for his courage in his military career and his advocacy for fellow military personnel who are gay.
Mr. Alva has made a commitment in the effort to repeal the U.S. military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy." This policy discriminates against lesbian and gay persons who wish to serve their country through military service, in that it requires the discharge of any service man or woman who is determined to be homosexual.
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Brookings Institution: How The Real World Ended “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
So what does the The Real World, now in its 20th season of production, have to do with the Pentagon’s current ban on anyone who “demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts” from serving in the U.S. military? History will likely look at the show, or to be more specific the genre of reality television it helped launch, as one of the key factors that ultimately ended “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” ...Read More
365 Gay: Military Recruits HS Dropouts While Banning College Trained Gays
The U.S. Army, eager to fill its ranks amid wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is turning to high school dropouts, opening today a prep school to enable prospective enlistees to gain the GED. ...Read More
The Gay Military Times: Retired Admiral Turned Congressman Fighting to End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
Congressman Joe Sestak, a Democrat representing the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, spent 31 years serving in the U.S. Navy and retired a three-star admiral. On July, 23, 2008, he spoke at the House Armed Services Committee hearing on a review of Don't Ask, Don't Tell 15 years after it was introduced as a law. ...Read More
Christian Science Monitor: U.S. Army Hopes to Keep Native Arabic Speakers
The Army may begin paying a retention bonus of as much as $150,000 to Arabic speaking soldiers in reflection of how critical it has become for the US military to retain native language and cultural know-how in its ranks. ...Read More
The New Yorker: A Soldier’s Legacy
Don’t ask, don’t tell, but Alan Rogers was a hero to everyone who knew him. ...Read More
Philadelphia City Paper: Ask, Tell
Last Thursday, a large group of advocates gathered at the Prime Rib in Center City to raise money to fight for the repeal of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. ...Read More
Creative Loafing Atlanta: Pride & patriotism
Stephen Benjamin still carries strong traces of his military training. He dresses neatly in a green pullover and jeans, his hair's fashionably short, and he's precisely on time for an interview at the Ansley Mall Starbucks. He sits with perfect posture, sipping occasionally from an iced mocha. His voice is matter-of-fact, yet measured. ...Read More
