Press Releases
SLDN Statement on Congressman Marty Meehan
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA), chair of the House Armed Services Sub-Committee on Oversight and Investigations, and lead sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, today announced in the Associated Press he will leave Congress to become Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts in Lowell. Below is the statement of C. Dixon Osburn, SLDN’s executive director: ...Read More
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Dismissals Decline to Record Low
The Department of Defense dismissed 612 service members under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel, Pentagon officials confirmed late Tuesday evening. The number of troops dismissed last year is less than half the total number of discharges in the fiscal year preceding the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Pentagon officials released the data today following remarks by General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, supporting the ban and referring to lesbian and gay personnel as ‘immoral.’ ...Read More
SLDN Condemns Joint Chiefs Chairman and Demands Apology for Remarks About Gay Personnel
Washington, DC – Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) today strongly condemned remarks by General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, calling lesbian and gay personnel “immoral.” In an interview with The Chicago Tribune, Pace said that "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts.” He went on to reiterate his support for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by saying that “I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way.” SLDN demanded that General Pace apologize for his remarks. ...Read More
First Circuit Hears ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Appeal
BOSTON, MASS. – The First Circuit heard oral arguments today in an appeal filed by veterans dismissed under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. The veterans, who all served during the current war on terror, asked the Court to reverse a lower court ruling dismissing their constitutional challenge to the law. The lawsuit, Cook v. Gates, was filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and the law firm of WilmerHale. ...Read More
First Circuit to Hear Oral Arguments in “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Case
WHAT: The federal First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, Mass., will hear oral arguments in Cook v. Gates, a constitutional challenge to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel. ...Read More
Congressman Marty Meehan Re-Introduces House Legislation to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA), chair of the House Armed Services Sub-Committee on Oversight and Investigations, today will re-introduce legislation to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay, and bisexual military personnel. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act is supported by 109 original co-sponsors and Congressman Meehan. Three Republican lawmakers – Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) – are among the co-sponsors. ...Read More
Congressman Marty Meehan to Re-Introduce Legislation to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
WHAT: Representative Marty Meehan (D-MA), will re-introduce The Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a Congressional bill to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual military personnel. Rep. Meehan’s bill, originally introduced in the 109th Congress, garnered the support of more than 120 bi-partisan lawmakers during that session. ...Read More
SLDN to Hold Conference Call on Re-Introduction of Legislation to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
WHAT: Servicmembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) will hold a conference call for members of the LGBT media to discuss Representative Marty Meehan’s (D-MA) reintroduction of The Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual military personnel. Rep. Meehan’s bill, originally introduced in the 109th Congress, garnered the support of more than 120 bi-partisan lawmakers during that session. ...Read More
SLDN Remembers Gay Rights Pioneer Barbara Gittings
WASHINGTON, DC – Barbara Gittings, a pioneering lesbian and gay civil rights activists, died Sunday in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, according to her partner of 46 years, Kay Tobin Lahusen. ...Read More
California Military Reserve Commander Releases Strong Endorsement of Equal Opportunity
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – Major General William H. Wade II, commander of the California Military Reserve, has issued a policy memorandum on the state’s commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The memo, dated February 14, notes that “All leaders are responsible for ensuring that every member of the State Civil Service, State Military Reserve, and State Active Duty who are not federally recognized receive fair and equitable treatment on the basis of their capability and merit without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, gender, disability, age, or sexual orientation.” The non-discrimination order, signed in September 2004 by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, applies to all California state military personnel who are ineligible for activation or deployment by the federal government. The order does not apply to National Guard units in California. ...Read More
