SLDN Unveils 5-Year Plan To Begin Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'; Marking 10th Anniversary Of Gay Ban, Plan Includes Grassroots & Legislative Advocacy on Behalf of LGBT Military Personnel

1/29/2003

From: Steve Ralls of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, 202-328-3244, ext. 116, sralls@sldn.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), the nation's sole legal aid and advocacy organization assisting military members harmed by Don't Ask, Don't Tell, today unveiled a five-year strategic plan to repeal the military's gay ban through grassroots organizing, stepped up efforts to educate the public and key decision makers and increased policy advocacy. The plan coincides with the 10th anniversary of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and is SLDN's first public blueprint of its strategy for lifting the ban.

In unveiling the plan, SLDN also announced its first policy staff member and re-launched its web site, http://www.sldn.org, to focus on providing key components of a national grassroots campaign for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. SLDN will also add future staff to grow its advocacy, grassroots, education and research capabilities, all focused on lifting the ban.

The plan adopts a new vision statement -- freedom to serve -- emphasizing two bedrock principles of America -- freedom and service.

The plan also includes six goals:

1. Lift the ban preventing gays, lesbians and bisexuals from serving openly and honestly in the military. 2. Provide free legal services to service members harmed by Don't Ask, Don't Tell and related, discriminatory policies. 3. Protect service members from harassment based on perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. 4. Advocate for policies and practices that improve the lives of service members. 5. Support service member and veteran pride as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons. 6. Strengthen organizational capacity to assure the freedom to serve in the most cost-effective, strategic fashion.

SLDN Executive Director C. Dixon Osburn called the plan an important milestone in the organization's history. "This plan sets in motion an aggressive grassroots and advocacy strategy to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Osburn said. "Ten years after Congress passed Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the time has arrived to revisit the debate on gays in the military."

In 2002, SLDN also answered more than 900 requests for assistance from service members, an all-time high. The organization will continue its legal aid services for men and women in uniform. "Ultimately, it is in our clients' best interest not only to provide legal aid, but to also repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell once and for all," said Osburn. "This plan is a solid blueprint for achieving that historic goal."

"Today, with this plan, we build on our success with strategic programs designed to win our freedom to serve," the plan states. "We will educate Members of Congress, Pentagon officials and other decision makes about why Don't Ask, Don't Tell harms national security and offends basic notions of equality. We will build and electrify a grassroots movement that calls for lasting change in how our federal government treats us. And we will empower lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members and veterans through innovative communications and outreach strategies that bring their voices to the world."

Since its founding in 1993, SLDN has provided legal assistance to more than 4,200 service members and has obtained more than three dozen changes to military policy and practice. During the same time, public support for gays in the military has grown from 53 percent to 72 percent, according to polls by the Gallup organization. This year also marks the tenth anniversary of SLDN's founding. The organization now has a staff of fourteen full-time staff members and a budget of $1.8 million for 2003. The plan calls for doubling the organization's financial strength over five years to accommodate a growing focus on policy and grassroots advocacy programs.

"Ten years, more than 7500 discharges and a quarter billion dollars after implementation of this policy, we have a mountain of evidence showing the real damage of Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Osburn said. "Harassment and discharges continue unabated, and, just as importantly, talented Americans continue to be turned away from service to our country. Our national security is irrevocably harmed by policies of discrimination that have nothing to do with job qualification. With this plan, SLDN has the vision and roadmap to make the freedom to serve a reality."

Copies of SLDN's plan are available online at http://www.sldn.org.