Press Releases
Growing Numbers of Military Personnel Serve Openly
WASHINGTON, DC – As the nation celebrates National Coming Out Day, a growing number of lesbian, gay and bisexual military personnel are serving openly in the armed forces, despite the federal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on their service. ...Read More
Atlanta City Council Calls for Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
In an 11-2 vote, the Atlanta City Council passed a resolution on October 2 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 Anne Fauver and was supported by both Georgia Equality and the Georgia chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER). ...Read More
Award-Winning Newsmagazine ‘In the Life’ Kicks Off New Season w/In-Depth Look at Gay Mil. Personnel
WASHINGTON, DC – The award-winning newsmagazine In the Life begins its 15th season in October with an in-depth look at one gay service member’s experience during the war in Iraq. 'A Call to Duty' features former Army Specialist Jeff Howe, who was the target of an investigation into his sexual orientation during his second tour of duty in Iraq. Despite a stellar service record, Howe was dismissed under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel in 2005. More than 11,000 service personnel have been dismissed under the law since 1993. ...Read More
Congressional Support Grows for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional support for repealing the federal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members continues to grow. This week, Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) announced their support for the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1059), a bill to repeal the law and allow gays to serve openly in the armed forces. A bi-partisan coalition of 121 Members of Congress now supports the bill, introduced in March 2005 by Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA) and 56 other Members of Congress. ...Read More
Women Continue to Be Disproportionately Impacted by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Women continue to be discharged at twice the rate of their presence in the armed forces under the federal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law banning openly lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members, according to new data obtained by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). While women account for approximately 15 percent of the armed forces, they totaled 30 percent of those dismissed under the gay ban in FY2005. In all, 219 women out of a total of 726 service members were discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The Army reported discharging 146 women in 2005; the Navy, 31; the Air Force, 28; and the Marine Corps, 14. ...Read More
SLDN Announces New Board Members
WASHINGTON, DC – Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) today announced the election of three new members to its board of directors. ...Read More
Argentina Announces Plans to Repeal Military Ban on Gays
WASHINGTON, DC – The government of Argentina has announced that it plans to repeal its ban on gay military personnel, according to recent news reports, making it the second country in South America, following Colombia, to prohibit discrimination in its armed forces. Argentina’s government plans to modernize its code of military justice which, among other changes, will no longer prohibit same-sex relationships among personnel in its armed forces. “The ban was nonsense,” said Colonel Judge Advocate Manual Lozano. “It’s a matter of people’s private lives.” ...Read More
New Calendar Showcases Veterans, Supports SLDN
WASHINGTON, DC – A 2007 calendar released today by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) showcases twelve veterans from various branches of the U.S armed forces. The “Lift the Ban” calendar includes images from the organization’s national ad campaign, captured on film by photographer Judy G. Rolfe. ...Read More
