|
|
Oklahoma pol tries to ban gay, lesbian servicemembers from state National Guard
From a news release, Jan. 10, 2012
2012-01-11
|
|
This article shared 2547 times since Wed Jan 11, 2012
|
|
Washington - The Human Rights Campaign is joining The Equality Network in condemning legislation Oklahoma Representative Mike Reynolds ( R-Oklahoma City ) is pushing that would implement a more extreme version of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ( DADT ) law, which would be applicable to the state's National Guard. The bill would bar gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals from serving in the Oklahoma National Guard. The bill goes beyond the discrimination contained in the now-repealed DADT statute, and allows government officials to directly question someone about their sexual orientation essentially removing the "Don't Ask" component contained in DADT.
"Since repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' last year, military leaders have testified that our nation's military is stronger," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "It's surprising that an Air Force veteran like Representative Reynolds would disagree with our nation's military leaders and seek to weaken Oklahoma's National Guard by introducing this legislation. This legislation serves no purpose but to prevent qualified individuals from serving their country and their state."
"Mike Reynolds has a long-standing history of representing fringe views that rarely have the best interests of all Oklahomans at heart," said Laura Belmonte, chair of The Equality Network. "This legislation is demoralizing to Oklahoma's LGBT community and our supporters, and it sends a message that it is acceptable to discriminate against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. At a time of growing momentum for equality at the national level, this legislation will turn back the clock on advancements at the state-level."
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen said the day after implementation of repeal: "…with implementation of the new law fully in place, we are a stronger joint force, a more tolerant joint force, a force of more character and more honor, more in keeping with our own values." Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said: "Thanks to this change, I believe we move closer to achieving the goal at the foundation of the values that America is all about: equality, equal opportunity and dignity for all Americans."
If the bill were to become law, Oklahoma would join countries like China, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Pakistan in prohibiting gays and lesbians from serving their country.
Oklahoma's new legislative session begins February 6.
|
|
|
|
This article shared 2547 times since Wed Jan 11, 2012
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
|
| | 2024 LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day happening May 8 2024-05-01 On Wednesday May 8th, 2024, Equality Illinois and LGBTQ+ community partners from across the state are hosting the annual LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day. At a time when anti-equality governors and legislators are pursuing harmful and discriminatory initiatives ...
|
| | GLAAD releases 19th 'Where We Are on TV' study 2024-05-01 --From a press release - Los Angeles, CA - Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - GLAAD released its 19th edition of the annual Where We Are On TV study, which maps the presence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) characters ...
|
| | Lesbian archivists 'disrupt' history as they document their communities' experiences 2024-04-30 Queer archivists spoke about their efforts to preserve lesbian history throughout the country during an online event hosted by the Curve Foundation during its Lesbian Visibility Week series. The April 26 panel included founders, archivists and ...
|
| | Artemis Singers presents June 8 "Never Doubt: We Are Here" Pride Concert & Dance 2024-04-27 --From a press release - CHICAGO─Artemis Singers, www.artemissingers.org, Chicago's lesbian feminist chorus, presents "Never Doubt: We Are Here" Pride Concert & Dance, Saturday, June 8, at First Congregational Church of Evanston UCC, 1445 Hinman Ave. ...
|
| | Queer activism through photography: Exhibit spotlights a 'revolutionary' moment in Chicago history 2024-04-23 By Alec Karam - Artists hosted a panel at Dorothy, 2500 W. Chicago Ave., on April 20 to celebrate the debut of Images on Which to Build in Chicago, a snapshot of queer history from the '70s to the '90s. The exhibition, now at Chicago ...
|
| | City Council passes Lesbian Visibility Week proclamation 2024-04-17 Chicago alderwomen Maria Hadden (49th) and Jessie Fuentes (26th) introduced a resolution at Chicago's April 17 City Council meeting to declare April 22-28 as Lesbian Visibility Week in Chicago. This is part of a nationwide effort ...
|
| | 'United, Not Uniform': Lesbian Visibility Week starts April 22 nationwide 2024-04-17 --From a press release - San Francisco — Lesbian Visibility Week (#LVW24) kicks off on Monday, April 22 with a private event at the London Stock Exchange USA headquarters in New York City. This exclusive gathering marks the beginning of a ...
|
| | Brittney Griner, wife expecting first baby 2024-04-15 Brittney Griner is expecting her first child with wife Cherelle Griner. According to NBC News, the couple announced on Instagram that they are expecting their baby in July. "Can't believe we're less than three months away ...
|
| | Lesbian prime minister steps down 2024-04-09 Ana Brnabic—the first woman and the first lesbian to hold the office of prime minister of Serbia, or to be a leader of any Eastern European country—has stepped down after seven years in power, in a ...
|
| | Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame seeks nominations for 2024 induction 2024-04-09 --From a press release - The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame has announced a call for nominations for the 2024 class of inductees into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. Those wishing to may nominate individuals, organizations, businesses, or "Friends of ...
|
| | HRC president responds to NAIA vote to ban transgender women from playing sports 2024-04-08 --From a press release - WASHINGTON Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, responded to the National Association of ...
|
| | Ella Matthes, award-winning publisher, editor of Lesbian News Magazine, dies at 81 2024-04-05 --From an ILDKMedia press release - Los Angeles, CA - Ella Matthes, longtime publisher and editor of Lesbian News Magazine, passed away from a heart attack on March 16, 2024 at The Little Company of Mary hospital in Norwalk, California. She was ...
|
| | WORLD Lesbian sniper, HIV research, marriage items, Chinese singer, Korean festival 2024-04-05 A lesbian Ukrainian sniper and her machine-gun-toting girlfriend are taking the fight to Russia President Vladimir Putin, according to a Daily Beast article. Olga—a veterinarian-turned-soldier—said her comrades don't care about ...
|
| | Kara Swisher talks truth, power in tech at Chicago Humanities event 2024-03-25 Lesbian author, award-winning journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher spoke about truth and power in the tech industry through the lens of her most recent book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, March 21 at First ...
|
| | Almost 8% of U.S. residents identify as LGBTQ+ 2024-03-16 The proportion of U.S. adults identifying as LGBTQ+ continues to increase. LGBTQ+ identification in the U.S. continues to grow, with 7.6% of U.S. adults now identifying as LGBTQ+, according to the newest Gallup poll results that ...
| |
|
|