SLDN head to step down

Aubrey Sarvis announced last week he will leave his position as executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the advocacy group that was a key player in the fight to repeal the U.S. military’s ban on openly gay and lesbian troops. 

Sarvis said his departure would allow "new blood" to help the group gear up for its remaining challenges, which include winning spousal benefits for the families of gay troops.

Denver PrideFest 2011: Major Mike Almy of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

This year's Denver PrideFest (June 18 and 19) spotlights the sacrifices of America's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered veterans and service members.


Grand marshal of the Denver PrideFest Parade on Sunday, June 19 will be former Air Force Maj. Mike Almy, an Iraq war veteran. Almy served in the Air Force for 13 years and followed the policies of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), but says he was forced to leave the service after a colleague stumbled across private e-mail messages to family and friends - messages Almy thought he deleted from the computer he was using once he left Iraq.

"In Iraq, during the height of the insurgency, this commander who had replaced my unit ordered a search of my private e-mails. They went through about 500-plus e-mails and pulled out maybe a dozen or so which were damaging to myself in the light of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' "

He never admitted he was gay while he was in the Air Force, Almy says. He had been in charge of a squadron of more than 200 men and women, but says he was kicked out of the military.

President Obama signed a repeal of DADT late last year, but it still requires implementation plans by the Pentagon. The House-approved military budget for 2012 includes language which could slow that process by requiring additional military certification requirements for the policy to be dismantled.

Almy thinks the lingering support for DADT is similar to other now-overturned military bans for race or gender.

"Part of it, I think, is fear of the unknown. The military has traditionally been white men that serve."

Despite the slow process, Almy says he's encouraged by the repeal.

"It's such a huge step forward for LGBT Americans, saying that they can now defend America."

Sunday's Denver PrideFest Parade will also feature a volunteer color guard and the Denver Pipe and Drum Corps.

SLDN STATEMENT ON U.S. SENATE VOTE TO ALLOW FOR THE REPEAL OF DON’T ASK Don't Tell

“Gay, lesbian and bisexual service members posted around the world are standing a little taller today, but they’re still very much at risk because repeal is not final.  I respectfully ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to use his authority to suspend all ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ investigations during this interim period.  Until the President signs the bill, until there is certification, and until the 60-day Congressional period is over, no one should be investigated or discharged under this discriminatory law.  Even with this historic vote, service members must continue to serve in silence until repeal is final.  Certification and the 60-day Congressional requirement must be wrapped up no later than the first quarter of 2011.  The bottom line: for now, gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members must remain cautiously closeted,” said Aubrey Sarvis, Army veteran and executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

“We owe a great deal of thanks to many Congressional leaders who got us here today --  Patrick Murphy, Susan Davis, Speaker Pelosi, and House Majority Leader Hoyer.  In the Senate this would not have happened without Chairman Levin and Senators Lieberman, Mark Udall, Gillibrand, Collins and so many others.  But let me also personally thank Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.  This is the defining civil right initiative of this decade and today’s bill passage would not have been possible without Harry Reid’s determined leadership.  And finally, without commitment and a clear plan from the White House for the Pentagon’s Comprehensive Review Working Group, we would not stand here today.  I have no doubt the February testimony of Sec. Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, would not have happened without the President,” Sarvis said.

SLDN: Letters from loved ones impacted by DADT

With the Pentagon’s family survey now in the field, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), will release a letter each day this week from family members and spouses of former service members impacted by DADT. As the Pentagon reaches out to 150,000 straight couples on how their lives are impacted, these letters will share the perspective of those forced to serve under this law alongside their loved ones. SLDN is urging supporters of repeal to call, write, and schedule in-district meetings with both their senators as the defense budget, which contains the repeal amendment, moves to the floor just weeks from now.

Today's letter is from Chief Petty Officer Lee Quillian, USN (Ret.):

Dear General Ham and Mr. Johnson:

I am a retired military sailor, living with a wonderful person who was fired because of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).

Because of my experience with the military, I understand the life, the duty days, the underway time, the training cycles. Even the simple events of life at sea – how wondrous or disastrous mail call can be, depending on whether or not you get a letter; the whirlwind caused by the simple announcement of liberty call; and the sounds of the Navy - the bells, the whistles, the constant hum and different noises of shipboard living. These are just some of the various events and sometimes intense evolutions that occur around the universe called the United States Ship. I’ve been stationed on five of the best ships in the Navy. I speak the language, I know all the acronyms, and it’s an organization I’ve spent most of my closeted life in.

If my highly decorated and accomplished spouse had been able to stay in the Navy, her professional life would have included all of those same events mentioned previously, and more. She would have undoubtedly been stationed on board a ship of awesome capabilities. That ship would deploy, do training missions, visit foreign and domestic ports, and represent the world’s finest Navy. She would stand watch, hopefully in something better than a port and starboard rotation. If you don’t know what a port and starboard rotation is, just imagine working at your current job, six hours on, then take six hours off, then go back to work for six hours. Repeat 24/7 for the next 180 days.

She might even be sent on an Individual Augmentation (IA) to Iraq or Afghanistan while in her current assignment. During an Individual Augmentation, she would literally be loaned out to cover a critical needs job, however long that may be, in addition to her regularly scheduled deployment cycle.

I, however, would have to adhere to a strict set of rules when dealing with a deployment, whether it be an IA or ship deployment. Here are just some to think about – they reflect what life is like for military families under DADT:

Set up an alternative e-mail account that wouldn’t show the gender of my name;

Establish a very generic, genderless form of communications over e-mail;

Never write “I love you” – or nothing that could indicate anything at all about the nature of our relationship;

No access to the Ship’s Ombudsman – a point person for military families for all things very, very important relating to the ship and her crew;

Create a plan for dropping her off at ship – making sure our goodbye or welcome is in secret;

Never spending the remaining few hours on the ship like with the rest of families before a deployment;

Worrying about how close to the pier I could be without raising suspicion;

Before leaving home, be sure to say final goodbyes – no hugs and certainly no kisses allowed on or near the base;

Not being able to participate in any family video postcards to the ship;

Still trying to figure out how to deal with those pesky customs forms required when mailing anything to a “Fleet Post Office” – they require a name, so maybe use her parent’s name or the dog’s name;

Don’t put anything too personal in care packages – those might arrive via barge, waterlogged and falling apart – therefore, they might be opened;

As a result of the rough handling from a helicopter mail drop, any other boxes I send could be opened if damaged;

Don’t get sick, seriously sick, and don’t get hurt while spouse is gone;

Hope she doesn’t get hurt as no one would tell me – I can’t be listed as her next of kin in her service record without raising eyebrows;

Remember to have her pack her personal cell phone and the charger for use six to nine months later – can’t use any of the ship’s communications, so the cell is the only way to coordinate a pickup upon return home;

Knowing that when the other families are waiting at the pier, I wouldn’t be able to stand among them anxiously awaiting my sailor’s return.

This isn’t everything. It’s just a glimpse.

Sincerely,
Chief Petty Officer Lee Quillian, USN (Ret.)

SLDN: Letters from loved ones impacted by DADT

With the Pentagon’s family survey now in the field, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), will release a letter each day this week from family members and spouses of former service members impacted by DADT. As the Pentagon reaches out to 150,000 straight couples on how their lives are impacted, these letters will share the perspective of those forced to serve under this law alongside their loved ones. SLDN is urging supporters of repeal to call, write, and schedule in-district meetings with both their senators as the defense budget, which contains the repeal amendment, moves to the floor just weeks from now.

Today's letter is from Lynne Kennedy, partner to Capt. Joan Darrah, U.S. Navy (Ret.). They have been together for 20 years this December:

Dear General Ham and Mr. Johnson:

In 1990 – while working as a reference librarian at the Library of Congress -- I met Joan Darrah, an active duty Naval Officer. I already knew about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but I soon woke up to the harsh reality that loved ones of gay and lesbian family members are forced to serve in silence, too.

Over the years, Joan had adjusted to living two lives -- in the closet at work and out after hours. For me, it was a bit of an adjustment as I had been fortunate to work for an employer who valued my skills and expertise and realized that my being a lesbian in no way detracted from my ability to do a great job.

I knew that Joan could be deployed at any moment. She may be away from home for two or three years. I realized that being with an active duty military officer was even more constricting than I could have possibly imagined and I worried constantly about Joan’s well being. Yet, through it all, I knew our relationship was worth the compromises. I knew we had to make it work for Joan to continue to serve our Country.

There were so many things that we had to be careful about. For example, Joan had asked that I not call her at work unless it was truly an emergency. When we were out in public if Joan saw someone from work, I learned to “disappear,” until Joan’s co-worker moved on. We didn’t dare go to nice restaurants on Valentine’s Day or even Saturday nights. We could not show any familiarity while out in public. I went to parties at colleagues' homes alone lest a guest I didn't know learn that Joan was in the Navy.

The events of September 11, 2001, caused us both appreciate more fully the true impact of DADT on our lives and the reality of our mutual sacrifices. At 8:30 a.m. that morning, Joan went to a meeting in the Pentagon. At 9:30 a.m., she left that meeting. At 9:37 a.m., the plane flew into the Pentagon and destroyed the exact space that Joan had left less than eight minutes earlier, killing seven of her colleagues.

In the days and weeks that followed, Joan went to several funerals and memorial services for her co-workers who had been killed. Most people attended these services with their spouses whose support was critical at this difficult time, yet Joan was forced to go alone, even though I really wanted to be with her to provide support.

As the numbness began to wear off, it hit me how incredibly alone I would have been had Joan been killed. The military is known for how it pulls together and helps people; we talk of the "military family," which is a way of saying we always look after each other, especially in times of need. But, none of that support would have been available for me, because under DADT, I didn’t exist.

In fact, I would have been one of the last people to know had Joan been killed, because nowhere in her paperwork or emergency contact information had Joan dared to list my name.

Whenever I hear Joan recount the events of that day, I relive it and realize all over again how devastated I would have been had she been killed. I also think of the partners of service members injured or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are unable to get any support from the military and they must be careful about the amount of support they offer to their closeted service member loved ones.

The events of September 11th caused us to stop and reassess exactly what was most important in our lives. During that process, we realized that this discriminatory law was causing us to make a much bigger sacrifice than either of us had ever admitted.

Eight months later, in June 2002, Joan retired from the U.S. Navy, and I retired from the Library of Congress. If it wasn’t for DADT, we might both still be serving in our respective positions.

Lynne Kennedy

SLDN launches online campaign to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), launched today “Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama,” a new media campaign to help build momentum at this critical point in the fight to repeal DADT. Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. To read today's letter visit: www.sldn.org/letters.

"This is a critical hour as we're very close to reaching the 15 votes needed to include repeal to the Defense Authorization bill," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "We are just two or three votes away and we urge the President to engage now and voice his support to key Members of Congress for DADT to be repealed this year. By people sharing their personal stories on how this terrible law has impacted them, we can send a powerful message to the President and our own community as we build momentum going into this crucial vote."