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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2010

MEDIA ADVISORY:

CRANE, Human Rights Campaign to stage rally, awareness event on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal
Gay veterans, community members to address importance of repeal; kick-off CRANE’s ‘March on Myrick’ campaign

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Feb. 26, 2010 – Grassroots activists with Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) and the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, will hold a press conference and rally, Friday, Feb. 26, at 4:30 p.m., on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), the discriminatory law which bans openly gay, lesbian and bisexual service members in the U.S. military.

Community members and gay veterans will speak on the issue at a press conference preceding the rally and kick-off CRANE’s “March on Myrick” campaign to raise local awareness on the issue and ask U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick (NC-9) to support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” currently under debate in the U.S. House.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – the law prohibiting lesbians and gays from serving openly in the U.S. Armed Forces – is a failed law. Military leaders, including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, recognize that DADT is failed law and support its repeal.

Americans recognize that on the battlefield, it does not matter whether a soldier is lesbian, gay or straight; what matters is that a soldier gets the job done. This discriminatory law hurts military readiness and national security while putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk.

The vast majority of Americans – including majorities of Republicans, Independents and Democrats – support repealing DADT.

Since the implementation of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 1994, more than 13,500 men and women have been dismissed from the military because of the sexual orientation, including 60 Arabic linguists and nearly 800 other service members in critical occupations fields.

PRESS CONFERENCE & RALLY DETAILS:

WHAT: Press conference, rally on repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”; “March on Myrick” kick-off

WHEN: Friday, February 26, 2010, 4:30 p.m. (Rally immediately following)

WHERE: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 3^rd & Davidson Sts., Charlotte, NC 28202

WHO: Press conference to feature remarks from:
– Eric Alva, a former Marine Staff Sgt. veteran who was the first U.S. soldier wounded in the Iraq war and is now an HRC spokesperson on DADT
– Michael Noftzger, a former Army Specialist veteran who served under DADT
– Lacey Williams, a local CRANE organizer and grassroots activist
– Randy Floyd, a local CRANE organizer and the political co-chair for HRC Carolinas Steering Committee

For more information on CRANE, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the March on Myrick campaign, visit: www.rainbowaction.org

HRC recently announced a national campaign to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” to learn more visit: www.hrc.org/VoicesOfHonor.

The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) is a grassroots coalition of activists and community members working toward civil and social equality for Charlotte’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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