SLDN Dinner Photos Online

Metro Weekly has snapshots from last weekend's SLDN national dinner online. And, you can see a full report from the dinner at Pam’s House Blend.

Thanks to everyone who joined us in Washington!

- Steve Ralls

UPDATE! Local photographer Joe Tresh also has SLDN dinner photos posted online.

A Recruiter's Offensive Emails

Just days after General Peter Pace made his offensive comments about gays and lesbians, SLDN received a call from Jersey City resident Corey Andrew. Corey, who is openly gay, recently posted his resume at CareerBuilder.com. One of the respondents was Sergeant Marcia Ramode, an Army recruiter based out of Fort Knox.

At first, Sergeant Ramode was very interested in Corey's resume, but after she learned that he is gay, her tone soon changed. "You are considered unqualified," she wrote after Corey told her about his sexual orientation.

And it all went down-hill from there.

In subsequent emails, Sergeant Ramode told Corey, who is African American, that he "should leave the United States," and that "You must be a total idiot and so stupid to presume that you do not know what gender you are." Ramode also told Corey to "go back to Africa and do your gay voodoo limbo tango and wango dance and jump around and prance and run all over the place half naked there."

Needless to say, Corey was outraged. He contacted SLDN, and we contacted Sergeant Douglas Smith, at the recruiting command's public affairs office.

Smith, after receiving and reviewing the emails, told SLDN that "The matter has been referred through the U.S. Army Recruiting Command's Staff Judge Advocate to the appropriate commander for review, investigation and appropriate action. The Command expects its Recruiters to conduct themselves in a professional manner in all dealings with potential applicants and members of the public. We are ambassadors for America's Army. I cannot comment further on this series of e-mail messages at this time as it may interfere with the commander's investigation."

'Appropriate action' in this case should be nothing less than Sergeant Ramode's dismissal from the U.S. Army. Her comments were racist, homophobic and offensive in every conceivable way.

This morning's Jersey Journal has more information on the email exchange. SLDN will continue to monitor the command's response, and to press for accountability for Sergeant Ramode.

The Army, and its potential recruits, deserve better.

- Steve Ralls

The SLDN National Dinner. Live Online.

If you can't join us in Washington this evening for SLDN's national dinner, log onto Pam’s House Blend for live blog coverage of tonight's event.

Pam also blogged SLDN's dinner last year, and she'll be featuring interviews, reporting, video and photos of tonight's gathering, too.

The night begins at 6pm. Log on for full coverage.

- Steve Ralls

A Cover Girl Again

Cybill Shepherd still knows how to make a cover sizzle. And she has a thing or two to say about gays in the military, equality and SLDN's upcoming national dinner.

Surf over to Metro Weekly for their 'Special SLDN Issue,' featuring interviews with Shepherd, Pam Grier and former Army Sergeant Bleu Copas . . . all speakers at this weekend's event.

Grier even weighs in on the Peter Pace controversy:

"Some of the wrenching stories that I've been informed of are quite sad. And then to have [chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace] speak of how the gays and lesbians shouldn't be in the military, especially if they're openly homosexual, I just thought, "My God." But we all know there is a quiet, underground group -- growing smaller as we speak -- who have these views. But for him as a leader to come out and say that is like saying [gays and lesbians] aren't needed to take care of their country because they are almost non-human, because of their sexuality."

And Cybill talks from the heart about SLDN and the work to lift the ban:

"It's a cause that is close to my heart. I have this enormous respect for people with the courage to go where other people haven't gone and set the example of defying 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and other types of discrimination. It's so archaic that discrimination is still in the military through the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. I think it's the only place where you are allowed to discriminate against someone. You can't keep people out of the military because of the color of their skin or their religion, but you can based on sexual orientation. It's hard to believe that in this day and age we still have this kind of discrimination and we're depriving ourselves at a time when we desperately need these great, good people who have the expertise and are willing to serve their country. And the cost to the government of replacing these people! I read somewhere it's millions and millions and millions of dollars to replace excellent people doing their job with courage. It's an absurdity. Let's shoot ourselves in the foot a few more times."

And for all the ladies out there, Cybill drops a few hints about what kind of relationship she's looking for now.

So log on to Metro Weekly and read this morning's phenomenal interviews with Cybill, Pam and Bleu. And then get your tickets - before they're all gone - for a very special evening you'll never forget.

- Steve Ralls

In Memoriam

From Seattle Gay News:

Margarethe Cammermeyer, who had fought a successful legal battle to be reinstated in the National Guard after disclosing she is a lesbian, is mourning the loss of her son, Andrew A. Hawken, who died in a tragic snowmobiling accident on March 2.

"There is nothing as painful that I have ever experienced as losing a child. It doesn't really matter how old they are.You expect that they will be burying you, not that you will be burying them," she said. "People who have lost children in the past, they tell me the same thing, that the picture of their child is frozen in time. And everywhere you walk and everything you look at reminds you of them, or the last time you saw them, or the last conversation. And it's like with the death of President Kennedy, he never ages, and my son will never be older than 32."

The Andy Hawken Fund has been established at Bank of America to help Hawken's wife, Elicia Ann Hawken, a registered nurse. "They had just gotten their feet on the ground, and had a home," said Cammermeyer. "In terms of trying to help her regroup after this horrendous event, it was established on her behalf by friends and family."

Condolences to Cammermeyer can be e-mailed to grethe@cammelmeyer.com or mailed to: 4632 Tompkins Road, Langley, WA 98260. However, Cammermeyer requests a donation be made in honor of her son in lieu of flowers.

"It would be much better to put whatever resources they had to some other cause. And if it's Andy's trust, that would be wonderful. Otherwise, they can send it to some place where someone else has lost a child, whether it is from AIDS or as a result of the war," she said. "It's a life-altering experience, losing a child. We are extremely cavalier about those who lose children in Iraq. Even though we may not like the war, it doesn't mean that the family doesn't have the same excruciating pain that I'm feeling."

What Are YOU Doing This Weekend?

You could be having dinner with Pam Grier, Marlee Matlin & Cybill Shepherd at SLDN's 15th annual national dinner.

We'll be honoring Showtime's hit series The L Word for their storyline about Tasha, a lesbian National Guardsman who finds herself caught up in the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. And we'll be joined by former Arabic linguist Bleu Copas . . . and a surprise special guest you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS.

Mark your calendar for this Saturday, March 24, and buy your tickets online here.

And if you can't join us in Washington, watch the live blog of this year's dinner, beginning at 8pm, at Pam's House Blend.

The stars are coming out to call for repeal. Will you be there?

- Steve Ralls

HOT PINK, Red, White & Blue

SLDN's National Dinner and Lobby Day events are especially significant this year, in light of all the attention the issue has been receiving recently. Since its inception, SLDN has been putting forth its greatest efforts to combat homophobia within the armed services and ensure our government "honors every veteran."

For these reasons, MIA Promotions is proud to produce and co-host "HOT PINK, Red, White & Blue" as part of SLDN's line-up of events—Sunday, March 25, 2007. The party will feature 3 open floors with DC's hottest DJs, the airing of The L Word season finale episode, and the much anticipated performance of "L TUNES" featured artist Kirsten Price. This will be Kirsten's first DC appearance, and she looks forward to meeting and greeting her audience in the special "Ladies First"/VIP lounge!

Though MIA Promotions usually caters to women only, this event is for ALL members of the LGBT community. Please note that a generous portion of our proceeds will be donated to support SLDN's work, so come out in support! (And plan to arrive early as the party is expected to be a sell-out!)

- Sonya Suon, MIA Promotions

When You Win, SLDN wins!

SLDN's 15th Annual National Dinner & Silent Auction includes, for the first time, an online auction component. Of the more than 100 items to be featured in our Silent Auction at the National Dinner on March 24th, a handful of our most exciting items have been specially selected to be featured online.

SLDN’s auction is now live on CMarket, at http://sldn.cmarket.com. Items will continue to be added, so don't forget to check back regularly for new opportunities.

Your bid could land you or a friend a walk-on appearance in a fifth season episode of Showtime's The L Word, a unique excursion to New Orleans, or artwork by internationally renowned social realist Ben Shahn - and that is only the beginning!

This online auction provides a wonderful opportunity for you to make the winning bid on these incredible items before the Silent Auction even begins on March 24th at 6:00 pm.

Again, the auction can be found at http://sldn.cmarket.com.

- Elizabeth Bolles

Doing My Part

As I get older, great quotes become more poignant and painfully applicable to my life. I wish I could have met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I think he and I do have the same dream - equality and to be judged on the content of my character verses a single inherent characteristic. I often read his speech to remind myself that in my lifetime the world will be a different place than when I started my journey . . . but that requires me doing my part.

What does that mean? In the past, it has been important to me to give my time and energy. I still believe this is true, but donating has become a significant piece of my giving too. Giving time has some added benefits. During my volunteer time with SLDN, I have learned how to give to something much bigger than myself. A residual reward has been meeting some of my closest friends. I didn’t anticipate I would gain so much.

Money is the hardest thing to give. I have always been reticent to give money, and there never seems to be enough of it. This message doesn’t come from someone who makes a lot of money or can just donate whenever I feel like it. I am a graduate student and a government employee. However, SLDN is the non-profit I commit to giving a monthly donation. I give to SLDN because I know I can help make the world a better place through their work. It was a watershed moment in American civil rights history when President Truman issued his executive order desegregating the services and, subsequently, when Congress allowed women to serve. The military is our country's largest employer and their policies spill over into civilian society. When lesbians, gays, and bisexuals are allowed to serve openly a tremendous barrier to other civil rights will be lifted ... at least that is my dream.

You will be hard pressed to find anyone more grateful for the work SLDN does everyday than me, since I am a former client and plaintiff in their suit. What an amazing group of altruistic people!! Recent events have made it clear to me the final battle is coming and we should prepare our advocates for that fight.
The barrage (“an overwhelming quantity or explosion, as of words, blows, or criticisms”) of media in the last two weeks is a signal. With the help of SLDN, we will continue fighting for our reinstatement in court this year, Congress will potentially begin debates, and service members will need legal advice. During tax season and the upcoming dinner please consider how much you can give -- whether it is volunteer time, auction items for events, and/or monetary amounts – it all goes towards achieving the dream of greater equality in society.

- Former Sergeant First Class Stacy Vasquez, USA

KALW Airs DA, DT Debate Tomorrow

Tomorrow afternoon, KALW Radio will air a recent debate, held at San Francisco's Commonwealth Club, about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Tune into 91.7 at 1pm (local time) on Tuesday. The debate is moderated by SLDN honorary board member, CAPT Robert Dockendorff, USNR (Ret.) and also features SLDN board member Zoe Dunning.

For more information, visit www.kalw.org.

- Steve Ralls

White House: Bush Appreciates Gay Troops' Sacrifice

Yes, I had to read it twice, too.

During a recent exchange while President Bush was visiting Mexico, White House communications director Dan Bartlett, when asked about recent comments by General Peter Pace, said the President "appreciates the sacrifice and service of every service member, and what they're doing on a daily basis to improve the situation on the ground and we can accomplish our goals there."

Here's the full exchange:

MR. BARTLETT: Good afternoon, everyone. I'll start with a few brief comments, before I take your questions. [...]

Q Does the President condone the remarks about homosexuality by General Pace? And has he asked for him to apologize?

MR. BARTLETT: Well, President Bush has been informed about those remarks. He's also been informed about the comments that he has made as far as clarifying, that he made it very clear that his personal views on this matter has no influence on the policy of the United States government. The "don't ask, don't tell" policy has been longstanding, one the President supports, for reasons why the Department of Defense has often described for operational considerations. So he thought it was appropriate for the Chairman to make that clear distinction today in the statement that went out just shortly ago. [...]

Q Can I ask a question -- switching gears -- on General Pace? What message do thousands of gays in the military right now serving in Iraq -- what should they take from General Pace's message regarding mortality, when their lives are on the line --

MR. BARTLETT: I have no way to identify whether your premise is right about how many people are serving in Iraq, but all I can say is the President appreciates the sacrifice and service of every service member, and what they're doing on a daily basis to improve the situation on the ground and we can accomplish our goals there.

It is the first time (that we're aware of) the President has expressed appreciation for the sacrifice of gay troops. And it follows remarks in late February, when Congressman Meehan re-introduced legislation to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," that the President will "wait and see what Congress comes up with" when asked about his support for repeal. That seems like an evolution of sorts since Bush proclaimed himself "a 'don't ask, don't tell' man" on the campaign trail in 2000.

Does this mean the President is willing to re-visit the law, and consider repeal? We don't know for sure (and Bartlett's comments seem different than the remarks by Tony Snow last month), but we can hope it is a (small, first) step forward for the White House.

Thanks to Michael Petrelis for bringing the new comments to our attention.

- Steve Ralls

Why I Love Larry Kramer

Earlier this week, a small energetic group of homosexuals converged on the recruiting station in Times Square to protest the comments made by Gen. Peter Pace. They surrounded the famous little building and began shouting slogans denouncing bigotry against the gay community. Soon after it began, a dignified older gentleman, with a full white beard stepped forward and tried to enter the station to sign up to serve his country and to express his extreme displeasure about Gen. Pace's comments, to someone in charge. That gentleman was Larry Kramer. When he tried to enter, he couldn't because the recruiters locked the door. The police came soon afterwards and arrested him and the other
protesters.

At 71, Larry Kramer is obviously not eligible to serve. He has, as far as I know, never served and quite frankly, he could fairly be characterized as a "radical leftie." Yet there he was, ready and willing, if not able. And man o' man was he fired up about General Pace! Go Larry go; give 'em hell!

For those of you who have never heard of Larry Kramer, he is widely acknowledged as being a titan of gay history. He is the founder of ACT UP. ACT UP was the organization that forced the Reagan administration to deal with the nascent AIDS crisis during the 80's. President Reagan would rather have just ignored it or characterized it as merely a "gay" disease. Without Larry, there would have been no federal funding for research or public awareness of the issue.

ACT UP was famous for doing things like throwing pigs blood in St. Patrick's cathedral in New York City or disrupting political events with raucous shouting. For a while, in the 80's I remember Larry and his compatriots making the news almost every other day being dragged off in handcuffs. Of course at that time I was so deep in the closet that I found his immoderate behavior to be distasteful; in other
words, I was a clueless.

Larry Kramer, through sheer force of will and fearless determination, made the world take notice of gay people and their issues. He was and is a potent catalyst for change, even if he is a lion with a grey mane now. Society is more accepting today of gay people because of men and women like Larry.

I used to think that the "diplomatic" approach was the best way to achieve change, because by nature I am pretty reasonable. Like most people who served in the military, I like order, am pretty conservative and definitely polite. Over the past four or five years though, my view has changed substantially, particularly after I learned about people like Larry Kramer. I now believe that reasonable is not the right approach at all. What I'm trying to express here can be summed up in a simple question we must all ask ourselves everyday. "If not now, when?"

Everybody loves Will and Grace, and the Queer Eye guys. The L Word is a hit, and not a night goes by without some talking head discussing gay rights. More and more people accept gay people. Straight society knows who we are and is influenced heavily by us, and yet we are still very much second class citizens. Sadly, many of our own community are falsely lulled into complacency by all the visibility, thinking that " well, you know, it will change eventually."

NEWSFLASH: IT WON'T! IT WILL ONLY CHANGE IF WE SEE IT THROUGH WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY!

Now, not some distant time in the future, should be our approach. Moreover, if that means that things have to get a little ugly, then so be it. We have to win and it would be nice to do so gracefully, but if not that's just fine by me.

There are one million gay veterans in this country and 65,000 active duty servicemen who are putting their asses on line for America. There are more than enough of us to make an impact, but WE HAVE TO GET PISSED OFF! I am appealing to the war fighter in all of you. Tap into that instinct to grind your enemies into the dust! People who openly punk us and think they can get away with it, must be made to pay a terrible price. We should be out there creating change all the time. We should be angry even when there is not some newsworthy outrage like the chairman's remarks. The fact that one gay service member should have to face death or injury having to hide who they are is sickening AND CAUSE ENOUGH FOR OUR RAGE!

I want victory now! I want our gay sons and daughters to be respected and honored for the sacrifice that they make on our behalf! I will stand up for them, and I don't care how ugly it has to get, so they will receive what they deserve! All of you should feel the same and do something.

Thank you, Larry Kramer, for teaching me a valuable lesson- CHANGE HAPPENS THROUGH RIGHTEOUS ANGER.

- Jeff McGowan

Watch SLDN on PBS's NewsHour . . . Tonight!

SLDN deputy director for policy (and former Army Captain) Sharon Alexander will appear on this evening's broadcast of The NewsHour on PBS. Sharon will be debating retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Maginnis, a long-time foe of lifting the ban.

Check out The NewsHour website for more details. And be sure to tune in tonight.

- Steve Ralls

L Word Episode Review: Little Boy Blue

Ah, another week, another hour of exciting drama from the ladies of the L Word!

Kit, upset by Angus’ cheating, falls off the wagon and, in doing so, highlights the less flattering features of Bette’s type-A personality. Jodi not only experiences Bette’s attempts to control everything around her first-hand, but also straight-up calls her out on it. This confrontation turns into an argument that seems to have the potential to rock the foundations of Jodi’s new found ability to sexually commit to a relationship. Tina brings the director of Jenny’s unborn film to Bette’s dinner party; Jenny, as usual, seems less than pleased to have the attention shifted away from her. Not to worry, though, she manages to return to the spotlight by declaring that little straight girls want horses, whereas the deepest desire of a wee lesbian is… a monkey? Although it is tempting to dwell on the random inner workings of Jenny’s oh-so-entertaining twisted little mind, it is within this episode that the audience gets a taste of the troubles that our heroine, Tasha, may face.

The gang takes a trip to the race track (mostly, I suspect, to watch Helena’s gambling addiction in action with a sense of appalled fascination) which is where Tasha runs into a follow service member. Moments before the interaction, she gently reminds Alice that she can’t engage in PDA to which Alice responds by jokingly, dismissing Tasha’s concern. This attitude carries over when Tasha introduces her to the soldier; Alice is very flirtatious in her communications with and about her girlfriend, obviously not grasping the gravity of the situation. The two women come away with very different takes on the chance meeting- Alice is confident that the whole thing is “nothing to worry about,” whereas Tasha identifies the guy as a homophobe and does not share Alice’s assessment of the situation.

- Charlotte D'Ooge

Another Veteran Speaks Out

Another veteran, Joe Barrows, shares his letter to General Peter Pace. Want to share your letter with SLDN? Email them to us at blog@sldn.org.

I am a former member of the armed forces who served with distinction in Vietnam, having received, among other acknowledgments of service, a bronze star. I am also a gay man who resents having the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff declare that I have morals that are inconsistent with the standards of service to my country.

If General Pace were to make such an outrageous statement as a senior executive in a large corporation, he would be instantly shown the door. The appropriate "moral" action within the armed services would be exactly the same. General Pace should be fired. Since there is little likelihood that this will happen under our current administration, I hope that General Pace, and those who serve under him, will use the uproar caused by his comments to open his mind and become more familiar with the reality of being gay generally, and the unnecessary strain to productivity and military service resulting from the Department of Defense's "Don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue" policy. In my days of military service, I believe these were known as "after action reports." Such an assessment is clearly appropriate here. Following are some points that General Pace should consider:

Many individuals who have been educated and live within a conservative environment such as that of a Marine commander have had little opportunity to interact with openly gay or lesbian individuals. Those who do are quite likely to discover that our daily lives are very similar to those of our heterosexual counterparts. I would encourage him to take the time to meet a gay civilian whose career has been similarly successful to the General's military career.

In my experience, and in the overwhelming majority of my gay and lesbian friends, being gay is not a matter of choice. I grew up in a family where issues relating to gay civil rights were never discussed. As I matured and slowly came to acknowledge that I was gay, I realized that I would not follow the same paths as that of my parents and siblings, and it took a good deal of adaptation. Much has become possible that was not when I was younger, but being gay still creates sometimes seemingly insurmountable barriers to equal opportunities within the organizations for which I have been employed, including the US Army. The general should open his mind to some of those barriers.

It has been my experience in discussing gay civil rights with those who have spent little time thinking about such issues but are open to learning, that they have a moment of recognition when they are asked when they first "discovered" they are heterosexual. Most heterosexual people I know never make that decision a conscience one. It just evolves as they mature. When asked, "When did you discover that you are straight?" most people have difficulty getting their thoughts around such a concept. Nearly all gay and lesbian people have gone through that process. The General should reflect on how much different a view that creates.

Finally, the General should examine how much harm has been done by the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. There is no evidence that I am aware of that shows the benefit of removing qualified servicemembers from military service. Much evidence exists, however, to the contrary. Why, for instance, should American taxpayers be called upon to recruit and train new servicemembers who are currently qualified and performing well in their military service specialty? The frequently cited example is the Arabic linguists. The truth is that examples can be found throughout the service. In addition to the losses resulting from mustering out of service those individuals who are highly qualified and performing well, there are the intangible losses that come from asking people to hide their personal lives or suppress their sexuality in the course of earning a living. The General's posted resume on the Joint Chief's web site shows that he is married and has two grown children. He should reflect on how many times during the course of a normal day he "asserts" his heterosexuality at work. He probably wears a wedding ring, talks about things he did at home over the weekend, antics of his grandchildren, etc. Imagine a world where all of that had to be sacrificed just to serve in the military. How can an individual focus on his or her job if one has to deny the natural instinct to develop family relationships, or, if they have formed a family, having carefully to deny that it exists?

I hope that General Pace will reflect on the injury his unkind words have caused to so many people who are now serving and who have served with distinction in the past. He has not yet indicated that an apology is in order. Since an apology is not likely, I hope instead that he will use this event to learn.

Sincerely,

Joe Barrows

A Few More Questions

Okay, let’s start with the basics and work from there, shall we?

What is the purpose of the military? Why exactly does a miltary exist?

The first thing that may come to mind for you are statements like “to defend the nation,” or perhaps something more vague, like “defend freedom”. Close, but no cookie; that still doesn’t answer the question completely or correctly. “Defending the nation” or “defending freedom” are merely mission statements and those can be changed.

So what exactly is the first principle of any military, around which is draped all the purple prose about heroism and patriotism?

Every military in the world exists to kill people and break things. After that, it’s all spin.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s move on to the next question. Is killing people and breaking things “moral?" The short answer is, of course, no! Just like mommy and daddy taught you, it is not nice to hurt others or destroy their property. It is, however, lamentably necessary, because of the world that we live in and who we are as a species. We need a strong military in order to survive and protect our interests. This is not a unique idea by the way . . . every country in the world has “interests” and therefore needs a military.

The rules that govern a military are in place to ensure that armed forces can perform their primary function. Unit cohesion is an important part of that and so is leadership.

Like it or not, America is made up of many different types of people who have many different sets of values and ideas. Patriotism is not the preserve of only one segment of our society. To be effective, the leadership of the armed forces must be able meld a vast array of men and women into a cohesive fighting force. Contrary to popular belief, recruits do not lose their individual qualities. In fact, good leaders get their units to bond and perform by incorporating the uniqueness of every individual.

Morality has nothing to do with any of this. It is purely a matter of cold hard pragmatism.

Having rules against adultery is a good thing, particularly when the adulterer might find himself in a combat situation with the other guy holding a loaded weapon near by. The difference here is that adultery is an act, just like robbery or murder. Homosexuality is an innate quality, like being black or asian. It is fine to regulate acts to a point, it is not fine to regulate innate qualities. In fact, it is bigotry to go after someone just for who they are.

Troops have sex all the time in and out of marriage, because it’s an innate drive and they aren't sanctioned for it, nor should they be. Sex is sex, gay or straight; it’s very hard to live without, precisely because it is an innate quality. It will not undermine unit cohesion if we let the troops just figure out their sex lives on their own.

So to sum up my point with an example, when the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy goes away, I will happily live with restrictions on two married gay men not being able to cheat on each other with “questioning” straight boys in their unit.

General Pace’s comments to The Chicago Tribune set a new low in stupidity and arrogance. I mean, he really just sounds like a self-righteous buffoon. His reasoning is the equivalent of Krusty the Clown debating string theory with Steven Hawking.

I am amazed he was allowed to get off so easily. Had I been that reporter, I would have asked the following questions.

Since the British allow gays to serve openly, are we immoral by association? Should we drop them as allies?

Is the Vice President immoral because he sired a lesbian? Can you be around him knowing this?

Having been raised in Brooklyn, possibly one of the most bohemian areas of New York, and arguably the planet, who do you think you are fooling when you act as though your childhood was right out of an episode of Little House on the Prairie?
Is General Shallikashvilli immoral, and can you ever go golfing with him again?

What about Senator Warner and the other 100 or so congressmen and women who want to revisit the policy? Will you be able to testify before the Armed Services Committee in the house and senate? We wouldn’t want you to sully yourself. now would we?

Upon reflection, perhaps the reporter thought that engaging the Chairman in a substantive discussion would have been like asking a spider monkey to recite Henry V.

If you want change, all of you better get angry as hell and then get involved. Ann Coulter, Gen. Pace, Elaine Donnelly and all the rest of the Bigot Brigade say this kind of crap because they think they can get away with it. Don’t make them right!

- Major Jeff McGowan

More Calls to Apologize

The calls for an apology from General Peter Pace continue.

This morning's New York Times editorial opines:

"By refusing to apologize, General Pace compounded the injury and reminded the entire country of what happened the last time the top brass took on this subject. It was Gen. Colin Powell's public rebuke of a new president, Bill Clinton, for even entertaining the idea of allowing homosexuals to serve openly that led to the ''don't ask, don't tell'' policy."

The Times goes on to say that, "General Pace is wrong in every way, and out of step. An increasing number of Americans in and out of the military now recognize that the current policy is indefensible. Those Americans include Gen. John Shalikashvili, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs when the benighted policy was adopted. In an Op-Ed article in this newspaper in January, General Shalikashvili wrote that conversations with gay soldiers and marines had showed him ''that gays and lesbians can be accepted by their peers."

"General Pace should still apologize for his remarks, forthrightly," the editorial board says. "Then perhaps some good could come out of his bigoted remarks if they added to the growing movement on Capitol Hill to finally allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military."

Washington Post editorial cartoonist Tom Toles also weighs in with a letter of his own (above). "I find it tasteless," Toles writes.

General Pace: It is past time to apologize.

- Steve Ralls

Senator Simpson, Talking Sense on DA, DT

Former Senator Alan K. Simpson, a life-long Republican who represented Wyoming in the United States Senate, and chaired the Veterans Affairs Committee, writes in this morning's Washington Post that the time has come to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Senator Simpson points out three reasons we should all support lifting the ban.

"First, America's views on homosexuals serving openly in the military have changed dramatically."

"Second, 24 nations, including 12 in Operation Enduring Freedom and nine in Operation Iraqi Freedom, permit open service."

"Third, there are not enough troops to perform the required mission."

"Since 1993," the Senator writes, "I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing and working with many openly gay and lesbian Americans, and I have come to realize that 'gay' is an artificial category when it comes to measuring a man or woman's on-the-job performance or commitment to shared goals. It says little about the person. Our differences and prejudices pale next to our historic challenge. Gen. Pace is entitled, like anyone, to his personal opinion, even if it is completely out of the mainstream of American thinking. But he should know better than to assert this opinion as the basis for policy of a military that represents and serves an entire nation. Let us end 'don't ask, don't tell.' This policy has become a serious detriment to the readiness of America's forces as they attempt to accomplish what is arguably the most challenging mission in our long and cherished history."

Now that's compassionate conservatism. And Senator Simpson stays true to the traditional Republican ideals of limited government and a strong national defense. As he writes this morning, "Is there a 'straight' way to translate Arabic? Is there a 'gay' Farsi? My God, we'd better start talking sense before it is too late. We need every able-bodied, smart patriot to help us win this war."

Thank you, Senator Simpson, for bringing a common-sense, conservative voice to the debate, and standing up for our men and women in uniform.

Steve Ralls

(Also check out The Post's editorial this morning, supporting repeal.)

One Veteran's Letter to General Pace

A statement from General Pace has been released by the Department of Defense. Check that out here. Below is a poignant letter one of SLDN's supporters sent along to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in response to his earlier comments about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Dear Sir,

I must say that I am deeply troubled by your recent comments to the Chicago Tribune regarding homosexual service members and your opposition to the repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell law. I am also disturbed by your statement that homosexuality is immoral. Sir, your statements only cement the institutionalized discrimination that the Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) law represents. Considering that fact that several high ranking officer's (including your predecessor) have voiced there support of repeal and that several recent reports show growing support from the general population and servicemembers that the DADT law needs to be repealed. It is time do end DADT and let all Americans serve their country regardless of their sexual orientation or what they do behind closed doors.

In a time of national crisis, such as the one we are in now with the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and on Terrorism the Department of Defense should be looking at ways to include all Americans who are willing to volunteer to be put in harms way. I do realize that the DOD is only upholding a law that was passed by Congress and signed by then President Clinton. However, Congressman Meehan of Massachusetts introduced HR 1059 - Military Readiness Act to change the law and to end the discrimination of servicemembers and potential servicemembers from being banned from service based solely on their sexual orientation.

I am a veteran of the United States Army. I served with honor during Operations Desert Shield and Storm. I am the recipient of the Bronze Star for my service during that conflict. When I enlisted for military service near the end of my junior year of high school, I did so because of my sense of pride and duty to my country. Back then I was not concerned about whether I was gay or straight, I just knew I wanted to be a part of the military. I cherish my military history and I am a founding sponsor of the National Museum of the U.S. Army. I will always be an American Soldier!

It is time to end this flawed policy and allow those who wish to serve in the military the opportunity to do so, regardless of their sexual orientation. Being gay never interfered with my ability to do my job. I would love to continue my service to my country, but only with integrity, honor and pride. I served my country with honor; I wish my country, in turn, would honor all of its service members -- gay and straight.

Regards,

William E. Smith
US Army Veteran

- Rebecca Sawyer

Tell Peter Pace: Apologize. Now.

Last night, General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, told The Chicago Tribune that he opposes repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because lesbians and gays are "immoral," and the military is not "well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way."

SLDN immediately condemned General Pace's comments, and called on the Chairman to apologize.

“General Pace’s comments are outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful to the 65,000 lesbian and gay troops now serving in our armed forces,” said C. Dixon Osburn, our executive director. “Our men and women in uniform make tremendous sacrifices for our country, and deserve General Pace’s praise, not his condemnation. As a Marine and a military leader, General Pace knows that prejudice should not dictate policy. It is inappropriate for the Chairman to condemn those who serve our country because of his own personal bias. He should immediately apologize for his remarks.”

General Pace's comments also show the real legs propping up the military's ban: homophobia, prejudice and discrimination. Unable to show a shred of evidence that gays and lesbians do anything but strengthen our military capability, General Pace and others have decided to resort to a 'morality' argument.

Military readiness be damned; the small-mindedness of a few now directs our national policy. That's not the way it should be.

So, join SLDN in standing up for LGBT military personnel. Tell Peter Pace: Apologize. Now. You can fill out the DoD comment form online, or call the Pentagon directly, at (703) 428-0711. (And join the debate about Pace's comments at Pam's House Blend.)

Our men and women in uniform deserve General Pace's praise. They should not be the target of his homophobia.

- Steve Ralls

UPDATE: Raw Story has video footage of MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, responding to Pace's comments. Olbermann calls Pace's remarks "tomorrow's administration scandal."

The Blend: Medically Unfit Soldiers Being Shipped to Iraq

Pam's House Blend has news about medically unfit soldiers who are being shipped off for service in Iraq.

"Remember," says Pam, "this is the same Pentagon brass that is allowing branches to lower standards and recruit people with antisocial personality disorder, autism, and troll for recruits on MySpace."

LGBT Americans who want to serve, however, are shown the door.

You can see the original report online at RawStory, and join the discussion at The Blend.

- Steve Ralls

Vets Speak Out on YouTube

A group of lesbian and gay veterans are speaking out on YouTube about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network!

The video, which provides a look at how the military's ban has impacted individual service members, includes former Airman Andre Taylor; CPL Denise Liggett, USMC (1984-1998) and Ensign, USNR (1989-1992) (pictured); former Arabic linguist Alastair Gamble; and Pat & Wally Kutteles, the parents of PFC Barry Winchell. It also includes a statement from President Clinton about how he views the ban today and a look at the work to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

You can watch the video online here.

We especially want to thank Jonathan Baker, LesIsMore Productions and SLDN board member Tom Carpenter for their tireless work to prepare the video and post it online. Their hard work has resulted in a beautiful testimony about why we must lift the ban.

- Steve Ralls

Math Lessons for the Pentagon

The Associated Press reports this morning that "Faced with a military buildup in Iraq that could drag into next year, Pentagon officials are trying to identify enough units to keep up to 20 brigade combat teams in Iraq." A brigade is typically 3,500 troops each. Translation: Where, the Pentagon wonders, can it find 70,000 new troops to meet the demand presented by the war?

Time for a Pentagon math lesson:

The military has dismissed just over 11,000 people under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Another 42,000 gay Americans would be willing to enlist if the ban were repealed. And, add to that the troops retained by stopping the 'two-per-day' gay discharges, and you're quickly getting to the magic 70,000 number.

When asked if he could use more troops, Major General Benjamin Mixon, commander of coalition forces in Northern Iraq, told reporters, "no doubt about it."

There's also no doubt that one of the most effective ways to boost military readiness, and get more recruits who are qualified and willing to serve, is by lifting the ban.

Stephen Colbert observed earlier this week that the number of gays dismissed under the law is "half a surge." But it's no laughing matter, when the AP reports that troops already on the ground may not get their promised break, and others are preparing for their second and third tour in the warzone, and the Pentagon, all the while, turns away those who want to help.

It requires no fuzzy math to figure out that repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" could go a long way in helping our military, and our men and women already in uniform.

- Steve Ralls

Who's Telling?

The New York Daily News reports this morning that Arizona Senator (and 2008 presidential candidate) John McCain was in the city last night, talking about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

From the News:

" . . . he said he is not inclined to change the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy on gay soldiers. He said military leaders tell him it's working."

What military leaders? Certainly not retired General John Shalikashvili, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Definitely not Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, one of the Army's most respected leaders. Likely not former Defense Secretary William Cohen, who has also joined calls for re-visiting the law. And probably not General Wesley Clark, either.

So which military leaders, exactly, are telling Senator McCain the policy is working? And how can they say such things when two people are fired, every day, for being gay and likely two more with sub-par qualifications are signed up for duty?

The fact is that the military is increasingly on the side of ending the ban. And those who aren't are likely to be remembered as being on the wrong side of history.

Really listen to the leaders, Senator McCain, and you'll hear a growing chorus for repeal.

- Steve Ralls

Don't Know, Don't Think

Stephen Colbert wants to have a word with the military about how it handles gay troops.

Last night's Colbert Report featured a hilarious segment ("The Word") about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the irrational exclusion of gay Americans from the armed forces.

Watch it online here. Just scroll down, under the video player, until you see 'Stephen Encourages the Military to Enforce a New Policy . . . '

- Steve Ralls

One View from Inside the Courtroom

David at Blue Mass. Group has the view from inside the courtroom during yesterday's oral arguments in Cook v. Gates.

"Both sides argued well," he notes, "and the judges (Jeffrey Howard, a former prosecutor from NH who was appointed by Bush in 2001; Levin Campbell, a senior judge who was appointed to the First Circuit by President Nixon in 1972 after briefly serving as a state and federal trial court judge; and Patti Saris, a Clinton-appointed District Court judge and former federal prosecutor and state trial court judge who was sitting on the Court of Appeals by temporary designation) were obviously well-prepared and understood the significance of the case before them."

"Judge Saris seemed troubled by a number of the positions taken by the government," he adds. "She seemed quite concerned that a portion of the statute in question appears fairly obviously to infringe on protected speech, or at least to be so broad as to chill such speech; and she also noted concern that in light of the broad definition of "homosexual," it would be in practice nearly impossible for any person who self-identifies as gay to avoid discharge -- that is, the policy is not (as the military claims) about proscribed conduct, but rather about one's status as a gay person. The government lawyer labored mightily to get around these problems, but was not able to set them to rest."

"Judge Howard also seemed concerned about the issues Saris noted, as well as the fact that, since the case was decided on a motion to dismiss, the plaintiffs had not had any opportunity to develop a factual record in support of their claims, which he seemed to think made it difficult for the court to answer the questions before it," he writes. "Judge Campbell didn't say much and was harder to read, but he is well regarded as a careful and fair-minded judge."

In the end, David concludes, ". . . prediction based on oral argument is notoriously hazardous, but based on what I saw today, I'd be surprised if the plaintiffs didn't achieve at least a partial victory in the First Circuit."

For more coverage of yesterday's hearing, visit the SLDN press room online.

- Steve Ralls

(Photo from our friends at Towleroad.)

1246

Many of you have emailed to ask about the bill number for the newly re-introduced Military Readiness Enhancement Act. Congressman Meehan's legislation is now officially H.R. 1246 (as opposed to H.R. 1059 in the last Congress.)

You can keep up to date on the current list of co-sponsors for the bill online here. And now you can write your representative and tell them: support H.R. 1246!

- Steve Ralls

A Promise of 'Liberty and Justice for All'

This morning, many of the plaintiffs in Cook v. Gates, the constitutional court challenge to "Dont' Ask, Don't Tell," are at the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. They are asking the Court to overturn a District Court ruling dismissing their lawsuit, and allow them the opportunity to present their case for ending the ban. This is their statement about today's oral arguments.

"We are grateful today to the First Circuit for hearing our appeal, and considering our request to have our day in court. When we began this journey in December 2004, we were determined to have our stories heard and to present the facts about 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.' Today’s hearing was an important step forward in that journey. Our counsel at Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and the law firm of WilmerHale have worked tirelessly to see justice served, and we are also grateful for their representation and their friendship.

Today, more than ever, our country needs patriotic, qualified men and women to step up and serve. Each of us has done so before, and remains ready to do so again. We continue to believe that service should be based on qualification, and not on outdated prejudices and stereotypes. We know our nation has been made safer by the talents of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and we are honored to be part of that proud tradition of service. We are Americans, too, and we love our country, our freedoms and our government every bit as much as our heterosexual neighbors.

Every day, our military fires another two or three service members simply because of their sexual orientation. We are twelve of the more than 11,000 stories 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' has produced during the past 14 years. Newspapers, television screens and radio broadcasts are filled with stories about the unacceptable consequences of this law: diaries seized; families interrogated; careers terminated . . . all because of a law that serves no useful purpose. This law must end.

This morning, we have come to the First Circuit with unmovable confidence in our nation’s promise of 'liberty and justice for all.' We believe the freedoms we defended as United States military personnel are alive and well in our country. We know our nation can do better than this law.Today, we have asked the First Circuit to move our case for reinstatement forward. We remain confident in that case.

Frederick Douglass, a great American, once said that 'Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.'

We believe our nation is more secure when every qualified American is allowed to serve. Our country supports the service of lesbian, gay and bisexual patriots and the time has come to end 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.'"

Visiting with 'Angels'

I just saw an extraordinary film.

Documentary filmmaker Louise Hogarth is about to release her new project, Angels in the Dust, through Participant Productions. I was honored to receive an advance copy of the film from Louise, and spent this evening in the company of some of the most phenomenal - and heroic - people I have met in a long, long time.

Angels tells the story of one of the most painful epidemics of our lifetime: the journey of countless children in Africa who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Lousie's documentary looks at the amazing work of Marion Clote, a mother who has sacrificed so much in her own life to care for many of Africa's orphans at Botshabelo, a refuge for the children living with HIV/AIDS.

Marion and her children are heroic; Louise's film is a triumph.

The film will be screening at festivals during the coming year and, if my critique is any indication, will become a phenom when it premieres. You can view the trailer online, and read more about the project. And if the film makes it to your city, do not miss the chance to experience it for yourself. It is 90 minutes that will remain with you for a lifetime.

Louise's next project is a documentary about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." If Angels is any indication, it could move the debate about that issue forward by leaps and bounds.

- Steve Ralls

More Calls for Repeal

In the wake of re-introduction of The Military Readiness Enhancement Act, newspapers across the country are again calling for repeal. Since Congressman Marty Meehan announced he's again pushing for an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," editorial boards from have offered up their endorsement.

Just during the past week, The Leaf-Chronicle (in Tennessee), The Roanoke Times, The Shreveport Times, The Hartford Courant and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune have all called for an end to the ban. And SLDN supporter Al Lott, a World War II veteran and emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Rhode Island published a pro-repeal op-ed in the South County Independent.

If your hometown paper has called for repeal, please thank them with a supportive letter to the editor. And if you're letter is published, let us know, and we'll send you a free SLDN t-shirt.

- Steve Ralls

Remembering Bob Hattoy

Bob Hattoy, who passed away Saturday evening, was a passionate advocate for LGBT causes, and a dear friend to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. He will be sorely missed.

David Mixner has posted a moving tribute to Bob on his blog.

- C. Dixon Osburn

(You can also view David's recent blog entry about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" here.)

"We're Going to Fix It"

Almost since her first day in Washington, Hillary Clinton has been an outspoken critic of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." She first attacked the military's ban on gay service members as First Lady, refusing to shy away from a policy her husband enacted . . . even while his administration was still at the helm. She continued her criticism during her historic campaign for the Senate and became a reliable ally for LGBT personnel.

Now, as a candidate for the presidency, Senator Clinton is standing up, again, to tackle the issue. Her latest remarks came on Friday, during an address to the Human Rights Campaign. According to the Associated Press, Clinton said that "This policy doesn't just hurt gays and lesbians, it hurts all our troops and this to me is a matter of national security and we're going to fix it."

Senator Clinton said it would be safer for the nation if openly gay soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen could wear the uniform, according to AP.

She couldn't be more right. And with a 2008 Democratic field of candidates who all support repeal (and a possible Republican ally or two in the race as well), the American people can be more confiden than ever that, indeed, we're going to fix it . . . and fix it soon.

Kudos to Senator Clinton who, if elected our nation's first female commander-in-chief, can break one more barrier in the armed forces and work to allow gays the opportunity to serve openly.

- Steve Ralls

TUNE IN: You can also watch Senator Clinton's remarks on YouTube.

Thoughts & Musings from Sharra & Her Partner

Random Thoughts and Musings on last night’s The L Word episode from Sharra E. Greer, SLDN’s Director of Law and Policy, and her partner D’Arcy Kemnitz.

Bikini’s In Iraq? A small regret, The L-Word has few, but then again, too few to mention.

But, let’s just point out one or two. In this week’s episode, discussion of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, or any insights into Tasha’s life in the military ranged from non-existent to Missing-In-Action. Yet, any observant viewer certainly noticed the bikini tan lines on Rose Rollins during the beautiful, fine-art quality nude of Tasha and Alice intertwined – causing one to wonder, is it likely that Tasha wore a bikini in Iraq? Body makeup, anyone?

A Busby Berkely showgirl extravaganza as an opening scene? Why not?

This week’s episode of the L-Word charted a new course in riffing off the classical movies techniques of Busby Berkely, famous for his elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns. The episode began with an opening aerial shot of returning-favorite Marina sporting a très risque top coat and tails (and garters!) with what would appear to be extras from Moulin Rouge wearing rubber-fetish/belle époque costumes in a synchronized dance number, as Marina introduces “Lez Girls.” Long term viewers may have been disappointed that the producers were circulating back to the previous unloved introductory fantasy sequence, however this episode’s opener was tightly woven into the narrative as Jenny continues to shop her “Lez Girls” article into a feature film. Get ready for “Lez Girls” the musical!

Alice in Bed-erland

This week’s episode featured a delicious dialogue-heavy scene that was directed with a chiffon-light touch in which Alice holds court in bed, after an evening with Tasha, along with new characters Papi and Helena. Their little ménage à quatre is interrupted by a distraught Leonard (Phyllis’ (Cybill Shepherd) husband) who, after settling onto the bed as well, demands to know what kind of spell Alice put over on his wife, begging, “What can you do in bed that a man can’t do. . .?”

Katherine Moennig Breaks Out

Fans of Shane will be thrilled that Katherine Moennig finally had an opportunity to sink her teeth into the role and show her acting chops beyond the bedroom scenes (not that we didn’t enjoy them!) as she chews up the scenery in a confrontation with her addict father. Her father reappears and threatens to put her half-brother, and de facto ward, into foster care if Shane fights him as he takes the child away from her. The episode ends in classic LA style, with Shane and Alice sipping brews on a billboard featuring Shane’s underwear ad. You’ll have to watch the episode to find out what they do with the spray paint!

Debating the Ban at Harvard

On Friday and Saturday, Harvard Law School hosted a two-day series of workshops and panels on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." SLDN staffer Sharon Alexander was there, along with SLDN speakers bureau member Brian Fricke, SLDN board member Joan Darrah and many other long-time allies for repeal. On Saturday evening, Harvard Law's Lambda (HLS Lambda) student group presented SLDN with its second annual Gay and Lesbian Legal Advocacy Leadership Award. The comments below are excerpts from Saturday's acceptance speech by our executive director, C. Dixon Osburn.

___

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” I would submit to you, denies every lesbian, gay and bisexual American full citizenship.

Citizenship entails both rights and obligations.

Merriam Webster defines citizen as “a native or naturalized individual who owes allegiance to a government…and is entitled to the enjoyment of governmental protection and to the exercise of civil rights.”

The Fourteenth Amendment states: “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” Interestingly, the same Amendment that defines citizenship also provides that no state shall “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Historically, citizenship has been tied directly to military service. When our country was founded, only white males had the right to vote, own property, and serve in elected office. Those rights and responsibilities were very explicitly tied to military service. In 1792, Congress enacted a statute that required every “free, able-bodied white male citizen to join the militia.” African Americans were not considered citizens, and were not allowed to join the militia. . . .

Today, gay soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are arguing in federal court that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” denies them their due process and equal protection rights under the Constitution. Next Wednesday, twelve service members take their case to the First Circuit Court of Appeals here in Boston in Cook vs. Gates. They have more than sixty-five years of service to our country, and scores of medals and decorations. All served during the current war on terror, three in direct support of operations in the Middle East. One was one of the Army’s top recruiters. One served in the infantry. Two were discharged, accused of holding hands for five seconds in the PX; charges they denied. The allegations, though, were sufficient to uphold the dismissal. Another was discharged when she requested a deferment of her report date in order to care for her partner of fourteen years who had terminal brain cancer.

These men and women are brave, patriotic Americans who are willing to fight and defend our freedom. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled to, and less than that no man shall have.” One hopes that the First Circuit Court will fully appreciate the historical context that connects the duty, obligations and privilege of military service to the rights and benefits of citizenship, life, liberty, and happiness. . . .

The most insidious aspect of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is “Don’t Tell.” We cannot be honest about who we are. We are invisible. And, as a result, commanders do not know who we are. Pentagon officials do not know who we are. Members of Congress do not know we exist. If citizenship means anything, it means that we have an opportunity to speak up for ourselves, openly and honestly. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” denies us that right.

I predict that the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be a watershed moment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community just as racial integration in our armed forces was crucial to the civil rights battles that followed. In short, repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will validate gay Americans as full citizens.

I am full of hope that the time is near when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” shall be relegated to the dustbin of history. General Shalikashvili’s change of opinion and calling for repeal gives me hope. BG Kerr, BG Richards and Admiral Steinman coming out as gay gives me hope. Out returning Iraq vets who were out to their units without incident gives me hope. The fact that four in five Americans support gays serving openly gives me hope. The fact that 73% of returning Iraq and Afghan veterans say that they are comfortable with gays and lesbians gives me tremendous hope that equality is near. I leave you with this quote from the conclusion of Angels in America: “The world only spins forward. We will be citizens. The time has come.”

Don't Debate

The blog at ABC News reported yesterday on a statement from Dr. David Chu, Defense Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness, to Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Senator Wyden wrote to the Pentagon, asking for any military justification for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Dr. Chu, rather than responding to the Senator's question, said in a letter that "A national debate on changing" the law would bring "divisiveness and turbulence across our country," which "will compound the burden of the war."

In other words: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Debate.

Funny, I always thought Congress did its job best when it engaged in open, informed debate about the issues. And I thought it might be the loss of doctors, linguists, and other critical personnel that could be 'compouding the burden of the war.' But according to Dr. Chu, it's the exercise of free speech, and open debate, that spirals our democracy into the abyss.

What country do we live in again?

Let's all stand up for Congressional oversight, educated debate and the first amendment by asking Congress to look at the issue and decide: Is it informed conversation, or the loss of qualified troops who could help in the war, that hurts us more.

- Steve Ralls

Remembering Aslan

I was sad to (belatedly) learn this week that Frontiers reporter Aslan Brooke passed away in early February. She was 67. Aslan was not just a reporter who covered the LGBT community with great passion, but she was also a friend, to both SLDN and to me.

Aslan was a veteran, too, and as Frontiers editor Alex Cho noted in his tribute to her, "From 1961-1966, she served in the U.S. Army as a medic — and would later become an outspoken opponent of the military’s 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' policy."

Indeed, Aslan relished the opportunity to write about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." One of her final pieces for SLDN - and the one I know she most enjoyed writing - was an interview with retired Army Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy. General Kennedy, who spoke in 2006 at SLDN's national dinner, shared service stories with Aslan . . . along with a few antecdotes about her cats. As soon as the interview was over, Aslan called, beaming over the phone, to tell me how much she loved talking to the general. Her passion for the issue shows through in her wonderful story.

I always knew when Aslan was on the other end of the line, because she was the only reporter, when I picked up the phone, who would always start the conversation with an enthusiastic "Hi, honey!" And always, at some point in the conversation, she'd inevitably say, "Well I just love you."

We loved Aslan, too, and she will be sorely missed by all of us here at SLDN, and by all of us in the LGBT community.

- Steve Ralls

Tony & Elaine Talk About Repeal

White House spokesman Tony Snow, tipped off by The Washington Times that Congress might be up to something dealing with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," stopped short of saying today that the President would definitely veto any change in the law.

When asked about Congressman Marty Meehan's repeal legislation, Snow told The Times that "We will see what happens if Congress comes up with something." Granted, Snow began his response by re-iterating Bush's support for the current law, but didn't necessarily rule out the possibility that the commander-in-chief would accept a Congressional proposal to allow gays to serve openly.

Snow, to his credit, is a little more grounded in reality than our favorite nemesis. Elaine Donnelly told The Times that "Even the Democrats I've talked to don't want to touch this bill."

Ummmmm . . . sorry, Elaine. But 107 Democrats and 3 Republicans endorsed the bill on its first day. (We doubt that Elaine actually talks to many Democrats, so perhaps she was unaware.) And if the White House isn't running away in total hysterics, she may to re-evaluate her position soon.

Would the President veto repeal? Does Elaine Donnelly exist on the same plane of reality as the rest of us? Pontificate in the comments!

- Steve Ralls