Discussing the Ban at the Commonwealth Club

On Tuesday, February 13, San Francisco's Commonwealth Club will host a discussion about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," featuring many long-time SLDN supporters and board members. The evening kicks off with a reception at 5:30, followed by the discussion at 6pm.

The Forum will be moderated by Retired Navy Captain Robert Dockendorff, a Vietnam era veteran who served 25 years in the reserves and is currently Chair of SLDN's Honorary Board.

Panel members include Zoe Dunning, a 1985 Naval Academy graduate, member of the Naval Reserve, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of SLDN and a private consultant who will explain her unique experiences.

Jo Ann (Jody) Hoenninger, an Air Force veteran and attorney in private practice and a member of the Emeritus Board of SLDN, will address Cook v. Gates (formerly Cook v. Rumsfeld) and other recent legal and legislative initiatives. She will also discuss her experience of being discharged from the Air Force in 1980 for being a lesbian.

Jeff Petrie, a 1989 Naval Academy graduate, will talk about how federally-legislated discrimination made hostile the work and living environment at the elite Annapolis Naval Academy and onboard the Navy ship in which he worked. Hear how almost nine years of that one-sided barrage of sentiment affected him, and discover what he with 28 other Naval Academy alumni did in 2003 that was a first in American history.

Jim Maloney, the founder and now a lead member of the Military Equality Alliance, discusses what is occurring in the academic world and in the non-profit sector to better understand as well as change attitudes towards gays and lesbians serving in the military.

Tickets: $8 for Members, $15 for Non-Members at www.commonwealthclub.org.

- Steve Ralls