Press Releases
Navy Assigns Openly Gay Sailor to Reserves
Washington, DC - The United States Navy has again assigned an openly gay sailor to duty in the Individual Ready Reserves (IRR), according to paperwork obtained by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). Former Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Knight, a Hebrew linguist recently deployed to Kuwait, has been placed on IRR duty until April 2009, despite publicly "coming out" in national media outlets and being told he would receive a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"dismissal. Knight's dismissal form, also called a DD-214, again lists his reason for dismissal as "Completion of Service," and places him in the IRR. The classification allows him to again be called to active duty, as he was in 2006 after completing a four-year enlistment in the Navy. Knight has now served openly during two tours with the Navy, with the support of his command and colleagues. ...Read More
Republican Presidential Candidates Support Dismissal of Lesbian & Gay Military Personnel
Washington, DC - During a Tuesday evening debate on CNN, the 2008 Republican presidential candidates indicated they would maintain the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel. Speaking in New Hampshire, many of the leading candidates said they believed the policy "is working," in stark contrast to remarks on Sunday by Democratic candidates, who unanimously supported repealing the law. ...Read More
Democratic Presidential Candidates Unanimously Endorse Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Washington, D.C. - The entire field of eight Democratic presidential candidates indicated their support for repealing the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel during a televised debate on Sunday. The candidates, appearing on CNN, all expressed support for allowing lesbians and gays to serve openly in the armed forces. ...Read More
Navy Linguist Jason Knight Joins SLDN in Campaign to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
Washington, DC - Former Naval Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Knight, a linguist who served openly during two enlistments in the Navy, will join Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) in working for repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel, the organization announced today. Knight's story has captured widespread media attention in recent weeks after he initially told about his experience, of serving openly during a 10-month deployment to Kuwait, to the military newspaper Stars & Stripes. He will join SLDN as an exclusive member of the group's national speakers' bureau, will be featured in the SLDN national ad campaign, and will kick-off his work with the organization during a June 5th visit to Washington, D.C., to meet with Congressional staff and SLDN supporters. ...Read More
Out Celebrity Reichen Lehmkuhl Introduces FLY NAKED with Reichen Collection from LoveandPride.com
NEW YORK, NY, May 21, 2007 - Reichen Lehmkuhl, the out actor/model/author/activist and pilot today introduced the FLY NAKED with Reichen Collection from LoveandPride.com. This sleek titanium jewelry collection for men arrives just in time for Pride 2007. ...Read More
Former President Jimmy Carter Calls on Congress to Revisit ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
WASHINGTON, DC - Former President Jimmy Carter, recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, has called on Congress to revisit the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. In an exclusive statement to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), Carter says that, "It is my long-held belief that every human being deserves dignity and respect. I often heard that phrase during my years at the United States Naval Academy, I carried it out as Commander-in-Chief, and it continues to animate my human rights work around the globe today. The nation's commitment to human rights requires that lawmakers revisit 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' the current policy that prevents lesbians, gays and bisexuals from serving openly in our armed forces." ...Read More
U.S. Navy Announces It Will Now Fire Openly Gay Sailor Re-Called to Active Duty
WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Navy has informed Petty Officer Second Class Jason Knight that it intends to fire him under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law just weeks prior to completing his one-year commitment. Knight, an openly gay sailor, was recalled to active duty in June 2006 and recently completed a tour of duty in Kuwait, where he was open about his sexual orientation with his command and fellow sailors. Knight told his story last weekend in the newspaper Stars & Stripes and was notified yesterday that he will be receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy based, in part, on his recent media interviews. Knight was scheduled to end his commitment on May 28, 2007, but will face early dismissal because he chose to go public about his experience. ...Read More
Army Re-Assigns Recruiter Who Sent Racist, Homophobic Emails
WASHINGTON, DC - The Army has re-assigned a recruiter who sent racist and homophobic emails to a potential recruit who inquired about Army careers, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has learned. Sergeant Marcia Ramode, who in March sent a series of offensive emails to Corey Andrew, an African American gay man contacted by Ramode through Monster.com, has "been suspended from recruiting duties," and "has been reassigned from Army Recruiting Command to a duty position elsewhere in the Army," according to S. Douglas Smith, Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. "The investigation has been completed, and administrative action has been taken," Smith said in an email to SLDN. ...Read More
Navy Re-Enlists Gay Sailor
WASHINGTON, DC 9 The United States Navy has called an openly gay sailor back to active duty after dismissing him under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel. According to Stars & Stripes newspaper, Petty Officer Jason Knight "came out" to his command and was subsequently discharged from the Navy in 2005. Today, after being recalled to active duty, Knight is finishing a scheduled one-year tour in Kuwait with Naval Customs Battalion Bravo. Service members discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" are not allowed to return to the services. The Navy has declined to comment on the case. ...Read More
Senator John McCain Defends ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ Calls Gay Troops an ‘Intolerable Risk’
Washington, DC - United States Senator John McCain (R-AZ), a candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, has reiterated his support for the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. In an April 16 letter to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), McCain says the law, passed in 1993, "unambiguously maintains that open homosexuality within the military services presents an intolerable risk to morale, cohesion and discipline." Senator McCain goes on to incorrectly assert that the U.S. Supreme Court "has ruled that the military may constitutionally discharge a service member for overt homosexual behavior." ...Read More
