It seems that the Gay Vets who actually have served this country in the Military very much appreciate the court challenges by Log Cabin and SLDN.
New England Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Veterans, Inc.
John F. Kennedy Station
P. O. Box 6599
Boston, MA 02114
Wednesday, 8 December 2004
Dear Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and Log Cabin Republicans:
We officers and members of the New England GLBT Veterans, Inc., salute the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network for filing a lawsuit, "Cook v. Rumsfeld," in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, on behalf of twelve lesbian and gay veterans seeking reinstatement in the U.S. Armed Forces, due to their being discharged under the military's “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gay, lesbian and bisexual military personnel.
And, we also salute the Log Cabin Republicans for taking on the military's inhumane, anti-gay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy by filing a lawsuit on October 12, 2004, in Los Angeles, known as "Log Cabin Republicans v. USA," which claims that the policy is unconstitutional in light of the Supreme Court's "Lawrence v. Texas" decision last year striking down state sodomy laws.
This stated, please know that we wish to be listed as a supporting organization with both SLDN and the LCR, in your collective efforts to repeal the inhumane DA/DT policy; and we are at your service and in full support of both organizations' "mission," which is also the primary mission of the New England GLBT Veterans, Inc.
To this effect, per chance, we have already collaborated with the SLDN to help in their efforts to repeal the inhumane DA/DT policy.
That is, last night, Leo Dorrington --a gay Desert Storm Veteran and President of the New England GLBT Veterans -- and I, were guests on a TV program on Comcast network titled "Nite-Beat, which was beamed live from Boston, MA, to 2.5 million households in 384 counties and cities in New England.
The topic of the program was titled, "We Ask, You Tell ," which fielded phone calls from the public regarding the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy,
and also included a "satellite feed" from Washington, DC, in which SLDN attorney Greer Sharra, spoke of the absurdity of DA/DT with Barry Nolan, Moderator of the program in Boston, MA.
SLDN Attorney Greer Sharra, did a skillful job in "framing" the lawsuit and corrected the moderator on several occasions, as regards to facts and figures pertaining to the DA/DT policy.
In between Mr. Nolan talking with Greer Sharra in Washington, DC, Leo Dorrington spoke of his 24 years of service in the U.S. Army; his tour of duty in Iraq during Desert Storm in 1991; and the necessity for repeal of DA/DT.
In turn, I also spoke as an openly bisexual veteran of the necessity for the repeal of DA/DT; my imprisonment and Undesirable Discharge from the U.S. Army due to my sexual orientation; gave the moderator information on the National Transgender Veterans Association, and reminded the general public that the current DA/DT policy and Department of Defense language "specifically" includes the discharge of BISEXUAL servicemembers --which is not widely known regarding the equation of "Gays in the Military."
This stated, please know that we respect and commend SLDN for their advocacy on behalf of our country's GLBT active-duty servicemembers; and also commend the Log Cabin Republicans for their vision and courage in filing the lawsuit(s).
Now that the iron is hot, let us all work together to achieve our common goal of repealing the inhumane DA/DT policy, which has ruined 10,000 lives; caused the murders of two servicemembers and divided our Nation and her people.
However, if we all unite together, we shall prevail and will one day be released from the bondage of the U.S. Military's barbaric DA/DT policy.
In Appreciation,
Leo Dorrington
President
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