Michelle, Hillary, and Maureen at the DNC

As the surprise speaker, Michelle Obama was a big hit at the big GLBT luncheon Tuesday in Denver, sponsored by the HRC and the Victory Fund. Aubrey Sarvis blogs about it on the Huffington Post today. A lot of big Democratic names were there -- Barney Frank, Steny Hoyer, Tammy Baldwin, and more -- and all of them favor repeal of DADT.

We've come a long way in four years. Aubrey didn't miss Hillary's speech either, or Maureen Down's response to it.

At the Democratic Convention the Mantra Is....

The Democratic National Convention keeps our man in Denver moving. From Google's tent (get a massage while your phone is charging) to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's reception to the hymn-singing ladies on the street, SLDN's Aubrey Sarvis is a busy man -- and everywhere he's pushing for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the passage of H.R. 1246. Read about it in his latest blog on the Huffington Post.

Anxious Democrats

Aubrey Sarvis is blogging this week for the Huffington Post from the Democratic National Convention in Denver. He reports that the party faithful are full of hopeful anticipation mixed with a dash of apprehension. Why the apprehension? Look towards the Clintons. How much weight to give the Hillary factor? Will her most ardent supporters get on the Obama bandwagon, however reluctantly? Or are they so disaffected that they’ll climb aboard the McCain Express and elect the Republicans' man in November?

Standing on Principle

Aubrey Sarvis recently wrote in the Huffington Post about the Democratic Party’s draft platform that calls for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Four years ago, DADT was not even mentioned. The draft has to be approved by the convention next week, but that seems a virtual certainty. He compares this principled stand with others that were found controversial in their time, like the racial integration of the armed forces in 1948. Such major changes in attitude rise above partisanship. They’re not about what party we belong to but what kind of country we are.

Irony in the House Dead? Not Yet

In his most recent Huffington Post article, SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis reflects on the irony of Congress holding historic hearings on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” the very same day lawmakers attended a ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of President Truman’s integration of the armed forces.

In his article, Sarvis notes, “The very same arguments that were made in 1948 against mingling the races in the military were made Wednesday against mixing homosexuals and heterosexuals...But there was a major difference: this time the two witnesses testifying to the hotbed of sexual license that our armed forces would instantly become should homosexuals be allowed to romp freely through the barracks looked, to put it charitably, foolish.”

Click here to visit Huffington Post and learn what Sarvis is saying about "Irony in the House.”

-Adam Ebbin

The Testimony of Three Witnesses

On the eve of historic Congressional hearings, SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis shares with the Huffington Post, the identities of the three patriotic men and women who will step forward and give testimony on the urgent need to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

In his article, Sarvis discusses the importance of the hearings and predicts, "in the not too distant future the era of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' will seem part of a sad and dusty past, vaguely unreal, like a dream, almost quaint." Click here to visit Huffington Post and learn what Sarvis is saying about "The Testimony of Three Witnesses.”

-Adam Ebbin

Senator Nunn’s Last Chance

With the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates finally confirmed, attention is turning towards who Senators Obama and McCain will choose as running mates. One of the names being suggested as a possible Vice Presidential material for Sen. Obama is former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, one of the architects of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

In his most recent Huffington Post article, SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis takes on the rumors that Nunn will be selected by Obama as his running mate. Sarvis notes, "Nunn has got to go all the way on opening the military to qualified gays and lesbians who want to serve – not half way, as he’s been doing lately."

Click here to visit Huffington Post and learn why Sarvis is saying that this is “Senator Nunn’s Last Chance.”

-Adam Ebbin

Sarvis Discusses Possible Congressional Hearing on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Last month SLDN announced that more than 600 service members had been discharged from the military in 2007 because they are lesbain, gay or bisexual, bringing the total number of men and women discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to nearly 12,500.

In his most recent Huffington Post article, SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis reflects on the possibility of Congressional hearings examining the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and the personnel needs of our armed forces. Sarvis notes, "It is historic because any serious discussion of the crisis the country faces in recruiting and retaining qualified men and women in the military...will require a fresh and serious look at the odious ‘compromise’ known as ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell.’"

Click here to visit Huffington Post and learn why Sarvis is calling the first Congressional hearing on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in fifteen years "historic."

-Victor Maldonado

Enough!

Last month SLDN announced the discharge of combat medic Sergeant Darren Manzella from the U. S. Army under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. Though Manzella is a decorated veteran, and Pentagon studies have shown that openly gay service members do not affect unit cohesion or troop morale, the law still bans openly gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans from military service. Sadly, Darren Manzella is just the latest casualty of this law.

In his most recent Huffington Post article, SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis reflects on the meaning of Sergeant Manzella’s discharge and examines the roots of the civil rights movement noting, “The civil rights movement didn’t begin with Rosa Parks, and the struggle for LGBT rights didn’t begin with the Stonewall riots, but both events were catalysts for great social change.”

Click here to visit Huffington Post and learn why Sarvis is saying “Enough!” and why we need, now more than ever, to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.

-Adam Ebbin

Women’s Liberation? No, Oppression.

Last week SLDN released new data showing that women in the Air Force and Army make up a disproportionately large percentage of discharges under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). While women make up approximately fifteen percent of the armed forces, they account for nearly half of all discharges from those two branches. Why are women being singled out so disproportionately? Only the Pentagon can say. But what seems fairly obvious is that DADT is being used in an arbitrary fashion to target women in the military.

SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis considers why a tool as arbitrary as DADT even exists. While our allies in Canada and Britain allow their military commanders to judge who is fit for service, why does the U.S. Congress feel the need to take this decision out of the hands of our military leaders? Why hasn’t Congress repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”?

Click here to visit Huffington Post and learn more about why we need, now more than ever, to repeal this law and why Sarvis is saying, “Women’s Liberation? No, Oppression.”

-Victor Maldonado

A Medal for Sergeant Matlovich?

Sunday June 22nd marked the 20th Anniversary of the death of Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, USAF. In 1975 Matlovich captured national attention by appearing on the cover of Time Magazine in his Air Force uniform above the banner headline: "I Am a Homosexual." His openness and honesty marked the first time many Americans ever considered the unequal treatment endured by gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members.

In his latest Huffington Post blog, SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis examines legacy left by Matlovich and considers why SLDN continues to fight for open and honest military service.

Click here to visit Huffington Post and learn more about the need for principled leadership, and why Sarvis is telling the President that there should be “A Medal for Sergeant Matlovich?”

-Victor Maldonado

It's Time for Spine!

This week Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace will be honored by President George W. Bush with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civil award. The presidential award comes despite the fact Pace last year told the Chicago Tribune, "Homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral,” and was subsequently not re-nominated for a second term as the country’s highest military advisor.

In his latest Huffington Post blog, SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis examines the important role played by our military leadership. Sarvis encourages current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen to advise “the President and the Congress in an emphatic way that the ban on gay men and women serving in the military is not only obsolete, but wrong, and that it should be repealed.”

The strains on America’s military have grown exponentially since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was first passed in 1993. As wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to challenge our personnel resources, what America needs is for our military leadership to advise Congress that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is adversely impacting the ability of military commanders to recruit and retain qualified Americans into the armed forces.

Click here to visit Huffington Post and learn more about the need for principled leadership, and why Sarvis is telling military advisors that “It's time for spine!”

-Victor Maldonado

The Times They Are A-Changin'

This week Former Senator Sam Nunn told an Atlanta area audience, “I think [when] 15 years go by on any personnel policy, it’s appropriate to take another look at it — see how it’s working, ask the hard questions, hear from the military. Start with a Pentagon study.”

In his latest Huffington Post blog Aubrey Sarvis welcomes Nunn's comments as "progress of a sort" while challenging the need for yet another study on the issue. Sarvis notes, numerous studies have already demonstrated "sexual orientation [is] not germane to determining who may serve in the military."

Attitudes towards lesbian, gay and bisexual service members have changed and what America needs is leadership on the issue -- not another report.

Click here to lean more about past studies supporting openly gay military service and leave your comments on Huffington Post.

-Victor Maldonado

Civil Rights -- Then and Now

The California Supreme Court ruled last week that same-sex couples have the same fundamental right to marry as heterosexual couples under the California State Constitution. The decision was based in part on the 1948 decision in Perez v. Sharp which ended the state's ban on interracial marriage.

In his latest Huffington Post blog Aubrey Sarvis talks about the history and evolution of our country's understanding of equality and how President Truman's integration of the armed forces in 1948 may yet affect the future of lesbian, gay and bisexual troops.

Click here to read more and comment on the need for basic civil rights for all.

-Victor Maldonado

On Common Sense

The Secretary of Defense says that United States ground forces will grow by 90,000 over the next five years. Where are these troops going to come from?

Aubrey Sarvis brings some common sense to military readiness in his latest blog on the Huffington Post.

Click here to read more and comment on the need for rational military leadership.

-Victor Maldonado