Press Releases
Congresswoman Niki Tsongas Co-Sponsors Legislation to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-MA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has become the 137th co-sponsor of The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), a Congressional bill to repeal the �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell� ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. Tsongas replaced Marty Meehan as the representative of Massachusetts� 5th District when Meehan retired earlier this year. H.R. 1246 was first introduced by Meehan in February 2005. ...Read More
New York City Council Considers Resolution Calling for Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
NEW YORK, NY - The New York City Council is considering a second resolution urging Congress to repeal the federal �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell� ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual military personnel. The resolution, sponsored by openly gay Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, openly gay Council Member Rosie Mendez and Council Members Larry B. Seabrook, Chair of the Civil Rights Committee and Hiram Monserrate, Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, follows a similar resolution adopted by the city in May 2005. The resolution urges Congress to pass The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), a Congress bill to repeal the law. ...Read More
Event on National Mall Highlights Cost of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
WASHINGTON - 12,000 Flags will fly on the National Mall this weekend to recognize the 12,000 men and women discharged from the military since the enactment �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell.� The law forces the military to fire any service member who is found to be gay or lesbian, prohibits talented and capable Americans from serving their country, and denies our military the personnel it needs to fill critical shortages within its ranks. ...Read More
GOP Presidential Candidates Defend ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Republican candidates for the 2008 presidential nomination expressed support this evening for the federal �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell� law which bans openly lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel from the armed forces. The candidates were queried on the topic by retired Brigadier General Keith Kerr, CSMR (Ret.), a member of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network�s (SLDN) military advisory council who �came out� in 2003 and identified as a Republican voter. General Kerr served for 43 years in the military, including as Commanding General of the Northern Area Command of the California State Military Reserve. His question was part of this evening�s CNN/YouTube debate of Republican presidential contenders. ...Read More
Los Angeles City Council Calls for Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
LOS ANGELES, CA - In unanimous vote, the Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution on November 7th calling on Congress to repeal the federal �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell� ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. The resolution, which calls for passage of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a Congressional bill to repeal the law, was introduced by City Council member Bill Rosendahl. ...Read More
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Joins SLDN In San Francisco On November 9
WHAT: Servicemembers Legal Defense Network�s Honor Every Veteran reception, saluting the service of America�s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members and veterans.
...Read MoreFive Additional Lawmakers Co-Sponsor Legislation to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Five additional Members of the House of Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors of The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), a Congressional bill to repeal the �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell� ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual military personnel. ...Read More
SLDN Demands Investigation Into Death of Lesbian Service Member
WASHINGTON, DC - Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) demanded today that Pentagon officials conduct a full and thorough investigation into the death of Specialist Ciara Durkin, a lesbian service member with the Massachusetts Army National Guard who was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head on September 27. Durkin was serving in Afghanistan at the time. SLDN joined Durkin�s family, Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and John Kerry (D-MA) and Congressman William Delahunt (D-MA) in calling for the investigation. ...Read More
SLDN Demands Investigation Into Death of Lesbian Service Member
WASHINGTON, DC - Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), issued the following statement today in response to news about the death of lesbian National Guard Specialist Ciara Durkin, who was found dead at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan on September 27th. ...Read More
General Pace Clarifies Remarks on Gays in the Military
WASHINGTON, DC - In remarks today at the Senate Appropriations Committee, outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace clarified remarks he made earlier this year about gay service personnel and the �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell� ban on open service. In response to questions from Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) about Pace�s earlier comments referring to homosexuality as �immoral,� the General indicated a willingness to change the law. ...Read More
