Tag Archives: SLDN

SLDN Files DADT Suit

As further pressure on the members of the lame duck Senate, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network today filed a federal lawsuit demanding the reinstatement of three veterans discharged under DADT. The lawsuit filed in federal district court in San Francisco also seeks to have the ban on openly gay troops declared unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable for any service members. “I don’t …

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Call Your Senators Now!

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has issued an “all hands on deck” alert, asking you to call your Senators and demand their support of the repeal of DADT. If you live in the following states, call the Capitol switchboard number below: Maine, Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Missouri, West Virginia, Arkansas and Illinois. 202-224-3121 KEY SENATORS WHO NEED TO HEAR FROM REPEAL SUPPORTERS …

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Mission Incomplete: Pro-DADT Repeal Groups To Rally On Capitol Hill This Friday

A large coalition of pro-DADT repeal groups are joining the “Mission: Incomplete” rally sponsored by SLDN this Friday at noon on Capitol Hill. SLDN’s Aubrey Sarvis, via press release: “We call upon the Senate and the President to remain in session and in Washington until the National Defense Authorization Act is passed – which includes the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask.’ …

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Log Cabin Republicans Ask John McCain To Change His Mind On DADT

Chris Matthews calls out LCR head R. Clark Cooper for being a gay Republican, what with their pesky anti-gay platform. Cooper: “Something, something, work from the inside, something something.”

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A Message From Gaga To The Senate

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Lady Gaga Uses MTV’s Video Music Awards To Push For Repeal Of DADT

Last night Lady Gaga took the DADT fight to millions of MTV viewers when she took her seat in the front row with four openly gay U.S. soldiers, all recently discharged from the military. The Washington Post reports: Gaga escorted former U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. David Hall, former Air Force Major Mike Almy, and former U.S. Army Sgt. First …

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DADT Ruling Reactions

Human Rights Campaign “Today a federal judge affirmed what the vast majority of the American people know to be true – that it’s time for the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law to be sent to the dustbin of history. With this legal victory in hand, Congress is right now in a perfect position to strengthen our national security by …

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Defense Secretary Robert Gates Urges Gay Troops To Fill Out DADT Survey

Even though advocates for gay troops are worried that the anonymity of the survey may not be airtight and have advised them not to participate. Note that Gates says “when and IF” when referring to the repeal of DADT.

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HomoQuotable – Aubrey Sarvis

“A number of service members have contacted SLDN to seek guidance on surveys concerning the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — the discriminatory law barring gay and lesbian service members from serving with integrity. At this time SLDN cannot recommend that lesbian, gay, or bisexual service members participate in any survey being administered by the Department of Defense, the …

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Gay Groups React To DADT Deal

Earlier today White House officials met with LGBT groups to hammer out a compromise agreement on attaching a repeal of DADT as an amendment to a pending Defense authorization bill. Following the meeting, the White House for the first time endorsed the amendment attempt. While some see lots of holes in the compromise, most LGBT and progressive groups are responding …

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HomoQuotable – Aubrey Sarvis

“In his State of the Union message President Obama said repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was the right thing to do. But Friday evening President Obama did the wrong thing, and in doing so he and Secretary Gates delivered a devastating blow to getting repeal done this year. Their joint political decision showed a lack of respect for our LGBT …

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Is the DOD Blocking DADT Repeal?

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director Aubrey Sarvis has penned a open letter (PDF) to the president demanding that he stand by his State of the Union pledge to repeal DADT. Sarvis told the Advocate this weekend that Capitol Hill staffers are reporting that the Pentagon has asked Congress to put off a vote until their repeal implementation study can …

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Shake-Up Continues At HRC

Less than a week ago, HRC Communications Director Brad Luna was told his position “has been eliminated.” Following several days of rumors, today Luna’s deputy, Trevor Thomas, confirmed his departure as well. On Monday, I will begin my new role as a communications consultant for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services and policy organization dedicated to …

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Alber & Goss: This Is Who We Are

Gay singer/songwriters Matt Alber and Tom Goss team up on This Is Who We Are, which they are offering for download in return for a donation to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Last month I posted a early version of the song. Singer-songwriter buddies Matt Alber and Tom Goss teamed up recently with videographer Zack Rosen of Washinton DC’s TheNewGay.net …

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Gillibrand Considers Bill To Suspend DADT

Over at the Daily Beast, Jason Bellini reports that Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) is considering introducing a bill this week that will suspend enforcement of DADT for 18 months. It would be the first time since the implementation of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 1993 that senators are forced to declare their position on the gay ban. A …

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SLDN Protests At The White House

Video by Americablog’s Joe Sudbay.

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Gibbs: No Stop Order On DADT

Yesterday White House press secretary said there will be no stop order on DADT because the administration wants a “durable legislative solution.” Americablog points us to tomorrow’s “March On The White House” by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Facebook page here. Like those who drew a line in the sand 40 years ago at the Stonewall Inn in New York …

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SLDN To Join DNC Fundraiser Protest

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network joins the fray. SLDN will be outside boycotting the Democratic National Committee (DNC) LGBT event in Washington this Thursday. SLDN will be calling upon the President to end his silence on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” We will be wearing and handing out buttons with the number 265, representing the number of service members who will …

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Obama’s National Security Adviser “Not Sure” If DADT Will Be Repealed

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network responds: Gay and lesbian soldiers continue to get fired on this President’s watch, most recently Arabic linguist Army Lt. Dan Choi and 2nd Army Second Lt. Sandy Tsao. At the end of the day, this is what the debate is about-them and their families. Also on ‘This Week’, Senator John McCain indicated that a study or …

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We’re Too Busy To Repeal DADT

Upon the revelation that there is money in the 2010 budget to continue DADT, Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged that the repeal of the law banning gays in the military is going to be “pushed down the road a little bit” because he and the president “have a lot on our plates right now.” The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network responds: …

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