Standing WIth Us!

I received this from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund today. This video is from last Wednesday, July 23, 2008. The following is from the SLDN email:

Staff Sergeant Eric Alva, U.S. Army Major General Vance Coleman, and Navy Capt. Joan Darrah all testified on the devastating impact of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on the military today.

But one of the hearing's most stirring comments didn't come from the testimony - it came from Representative Patrick Murphy. As an Iraq War veteran and former West Point Professor, Murphy said:

"You're basically asserting that straight men and women in our military aren't professional enough to serve openly with gay troops while completing their military missions. You know, as a former Army officer, I can tell you I think that's an insult to me and to many of the soldiers."

Rep. Murphy is correct: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is an insult to all of our troops. It's also a danger to the American people, since thousands of qualified, capable members of our armed services are losing their jobs for no other reason that their sexual orientation.

Discussions like these on Capitol Hill are an important first step for SLDN to build momentum through the election, and into the next presidential administration.

You can write those who stood with the SLDN and against this horrible policy at the following link: Standing With Us.

THANK YOU to those in the SLDN not just for their courage in fighting for our country, but for fighting against discrimination.