Human Rights Campaign Statement on the Justice Department’s Continued Defense of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" In Witt v. Department of Air Force

HRC Message to the Administration and the Senate: If You Oppose DADT, Finish the Job on Repeal

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today criticized the Justice Department’s continued defense of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, “Don’t Tell” (DADT) law by filing a motion for summary judgment in Witt v. Department of Air Force.  In their motion, the Justice Department, after acknowledging in a footnote the president’s opposition to DADT as a policy matter, again vigorously defends the statute, and among its arguments is that Congress was reasonable in barring open service by lesbians and gays over concerns about deployments involving forced intimacy and a lack of privacy.  The Justice Department goes on to contend that it needs a uniform rule to apply for DADT discharges, and rather than agreeing with the higher burden imposed by the Ninth Circuit in the Witt case in 2008, argues for a standard that will allow the Defense Department to more easily remove dedicated service members based on their sexual orientation.

SLDN, HRC Launch "Countdown 2010" Grassroots Campaign

Major push for ENDA and DADT Repeal over Congressional recess; Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Partners on DADT Repeal Grassroots Work countdown2010.hrc.org

Washington– The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), jointly announced today a new grassroots campaign to increase support and to press for passage of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal in the U.S. Senate as well as passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. House.  This nationwide campaign will mobilize grassroots supporters of equality across the country through in-district meetings as well as a call-in and email campaign.

UPDATE: SLDN Statement on Pentagon Survey of Troops on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

UPDATE

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Statement on Pentagon Survey of Troops on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

“At this time SLDN cannot recommend that lesbian, gay, or bisexual service members participate in any survey”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), released an updated statement today on the Pentagon survey of troops on DADT.

SLDN Calls on Navy Secretary to Hold Senior Chief Petty Officer Accountable for Abusing Gay Sailor

SLDN Calls on Navy Secretary to Hold Senior Chief Petty Officer Accountable for Abusing Gay Sailor

Navy promoted accused despite investigation findings; board recently recommended he receive full retirement benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), released a letter today sent to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus demanding that Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Toussaint – found by a Navy investigation to have abused former Navy Petty Officer Joseph Rocha – be given a discharge characterization that reflects his dishonorable service record.