Department of Justice Will Not Defend DOMA
P HOTO SOURC E: SL DN
of Department of Defense policy guidance on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the commitment from senior Pentagon leaders to study this issue and create a path to equality for all ser v ice members. In a letter to Panetta, Sa r v is had enu merated speci f ic benef it s t hat may be con fer red under existing law.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Executive Director Aurbrey Sarvis
By Dennis McMillan T he Depa r t ment of Just ice ha s sent a let ter to Hou se S pea ker John Boehner ( R-OH ) stating its position with respect to McLaughlin et al v. Panetta et al, which challenges t he so - ca l led Defense of Marr iage Act ( DOM A) and federal statutes related to benef its for t he spouses of ser v ice member s and veterans. “We are pleased that the Attorney General has decided not to defend the constitutionality of DOM A in t he m i l it a r y contex t , just a s he has declined to defend it in other contexts,” said Army Veteran and S er v icemember s L eg a l Defen se Net work Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis. “We are also delighted that, for the f irst time, he has
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said that separate def initions that appl y t o m i l it a r y vet er a n s a r e also unconstitutional. This is an important step for the McLaughlin plaintif fs.” SL DN is a nonpar t isa n, nonprof it, lega l ser v ices a nd pol ic y organization dedicated to bringing about full LGBT equalit y to America’s military and ending all for ms of d iscr iminat ion and harassment of military personnel on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Sarvis had called upon Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to take i m med iate act ion on equa l recognition, benef its and family suppor t for gay and lesbian ser v ice members as we approach the oneyea r a n n iver sa r y of t he relea se
“The year that has passed since t he Depar t ment of Defense sa id it would continue to study this issue should have been more than enough time for it to come to agree w ith the Comprehensive Rev iew Work ing Group’s v iew that fairness a nd equa l it y shou ld be t he order of t he day when it comes to a l low i ng ser v ice member s to designate a person of their choosing for existing militar y benef its wherever t here is not a rest r ict ion i mposed by t he Defense of Marriage Act,” Sarvis wrote. “To date, they have not done that, and for ser v ice members af fected by this, every day they delay matters to them and their families.” In Aug ust 2011, SL DN had sent a let ter to Pa net t a out l in ing s p e c i f i c b e n e f it s t h a t m a y b e con fer red upon gay a nd lesbia n service members without conf lict with the Defense of Marriage Act ( DOM A). I n t hat let ter, Sa r v i s asked Panetta to do all in his aut hor it y to add ress t he l i nger i ng i nequ it ies i n t he a rea s of fa mily support, pay and benef its that will exist for gay and lesbian service members following the repeal of DA DT.
Academy of Friends Gala Announced
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MC Donna Sachet pulls winning raffle ticket at the 2011 Academy of Friends.
By Dennis McMillan Academy of Friends (AoF ) announced the select ion of f ive HI V/A IDS agencies covering multiple Bay Area counties as the benef iciaries of money to be ra ised at t he 32nd A nnual Academy of Fr iends Gala. Academy of Friends has been one of t he lead ing cont r ibutors to the Bay Area’s frontline battle against HIV/AIDS, and has t hus far d istr ibuted $8.5 mi l lion to 72 d if ferent agenc ies over t he pa st 31 yea r s. T h i s yea r’s g a l a , “ S c a nd a lous,” is scheduled for the night of the Holly wood Oscar telecast on Sunday, Feb. 26 at the SF Des ig n C enter Ga l ler i a , 101 Henry Adams Street, from 5 until 11pm. Add res s i ng 15 0 V I P u nderwriters and guests at a special “Toast to t he Nom inees” reception hosted by the Bubble
L ounge on Ja nua r y 26 , AoF B oa r d Ch a i r How a r d E delman commented, “T he need to raise money for A IDS Services in San Francisco is real. We have an opportunity right now to make a dif ference for ou r f i v e b e n e f i c i a r i e s w ho have asked for our suppor t Huckleberry Youth Programs, M a it r i , S h a nt i , Te n d e r lo i n Health and the Women’s HIV Program at UCSF.” Ticket sa les d i rect ly benef it t hese agencies, and t hey are counting on the community of San Francisco to step up and buy tickets to the event in their support. To become a 2012 underwriter, cor por ate sponsor, lea r n more about this year’s Gala or simply to volunteer, please call (415) 995 -9890 or visit Academyof Friends.org.