Congressmember Susan Davis (D-CA) will join Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) on Thursday, Dec. 4, to discuss how the new Congress and administration under can play a role in helping to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” (DADT) the federal statute which mandates the firing of military personnel on the basis of sexual orientation. SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis will provide comments on President-elect Barack Obama’s recent appointments and the implications they could have on the DADT debate. Former Army Sergeant Darren Manzella wil also be a special guest speaker at the event. Testimonies of discharge under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be shared, and the status of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), which would repeal DADT and institute a non-discrimination law, will also be discussed.

Hosting the special SLDN reception to fight and end DADT will be SLDN Members Anna Curren and Michael Magee, along with hosts Col. Stewart Bornhoft, USA (Ret.) and Fmr. Lt. Stephen McNabb, USN, Dr. Arthur J. Kelleher, MC, USNR (Ret.) Mike Kirkeby, Robert P. Meinzer, Jr. & Stephen D. McIntee, and Todd Stevens will be present.

The reception will take place at the Mission Hills home of Robert P. Meinzer, Jr. and Stephen D. McIntee on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Last month more than 100 retired generals and admirals called for the repeal of the military’s DADT policy on gays so they can serve openly, according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press.

The move by the military veterans confronts the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama with a thorny political and cultural issue that dogged former President Bill Clinton early in his administration.

“As is the case with Great Britain, Israel, and other nations that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are professionals who are able to work together effectively despite differences in race, gender, religion, and sexuality,” the officers wrote.

While Obama has expressed support for repeal, he said during the presidential campaign that he would not do so on his own — an indication that he would tread carefully to prevent the issue from becoming a drag on his agenda. Obama said he would instead work with military leaders to build consensus on removing the ban on openly gay service members.

“Although I have consistently said I would repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ I believe that the way to do it is make sure that we are working through a process, getting the Joint Chiefs of Staff clear in terms of what our priorities are going to be,” Obama said in a September interview with the Philadelphia Gay News.

Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for Obama’s transition team, declined comment.

The issue of gays in the military became a flash point early in the Clinton administration as Clinton tried to fulfill a campaign promise to end the military’s ban on gays. His efforts created the current compromise policy — ending the ban but prohibiting active-duty service members from openly acknowledging they are gay.

The list of 104 former officers who signed the statement appears to signal growing support for resolving the status of gays in the military. Last year, 28 former generals and admirals signed a similar statement.

The officers’ statement points to data showing there are about 1 million gay and lesbian veterans in the United States, and about 65,000 gays and lesbians currently serving in the military.

The military discharged about 12,340 people between 1994 and 2007 for violating the DADT policy, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a military watchdog group. The number peaked in 2001 at 1,273, but began dropping off sharply after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Last year, 627 military personnel were discharged under the policy.

For more information about the SLDN’s San Diego reception, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1093.