Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Encyclopedia
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) is a non-profit legal services, watchdog, and policy organization founded in the United States
in 1993. It is dedicated to ending discrimination
and harassment
of gay and lesbian
U.S. military
personnel negatively affected by the "Don't ask, don't tell
" policy which was enacted in 1993. The SLDN documented over 700 violations in the policy's first two years of operation.
As of January, 2011, SLDN has provided legal aid
to more than 10,000 service members.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network defines its purpose as bringing an end to the U.S. military's "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy, which prohibits gays, lesbians and bisexuals from serving openly in the military, either by repeal of the statute that enacted it or by winning a judgement against the policy in the courts. It proposes to monitor the dismantling of the policy to protect service members during that process, and then to serve as a watchdog for the right to serve in the U.S. military without regard to "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or militarily appropriate gender expression". It includes within the scope of its mission all active duty, National Guard, reserve and officer training programs.
SLDN provides free legal advice and assistance service members and potential recruits. It works with veterans organizations and allied organizations on behalf of their shared goals.
In June 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
ruled against SLDN's twelve clients who sought reinstatement in the military after being discharged under DADT.
In December 2010, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act
established a process of review by senior military personnel designed to dismantle the DADT policy. In response, in January 2011, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network produced its own plan for ending the policy. The DADT policy was ended in September 2011.
SLDN has also received criticism over its presentation of the "Barry Winchell
Courage Award". Winchell, a Private in the US Army, was murdered after it was discovered that he was dating Transsexual activist and actress, Calpernia Addams
. SLDN have claimed that Winchell was gay due to his association with Addams, which therefore allows them to use his name for SLDN purposes. Addams and others have stated however that Winchell was heterosexual, making his murder an act of Transphobia
rather than Homophobia
. This award has never been awarded to a Transsexual person, even though the award was created due to an act of Transphobia and Transsexuals have been involed in prominent DADT repeal efforts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1993. It is dedicated to ending discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
and harassment
Harassment
Harassment covers a wide range of behaviors of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behaviour intended to disturb or upset, and it is characteristically repetitive. In the legal sense, it is intentional behaviour which is found threatening or disturbing...
of gay and lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
U.S. military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
personnel negatively affected by the "Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
" policy which was enacted in 1993. The SLDN documented over 700 violations in the policy's first two years of operation.
As of January, 2011, SLDN has provided legal aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
to more than 10,000 service members.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network defines its purpose as bringing an end to the U.S. military's "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy, which prohibits gays, lesbians and bisexuals from serving openly in the military, either by repeal of the statute that enacted it or by winning a judgement against the policy in the courts. It proposes to monitor the dismantling of the policy to protect service members during that process, and then to serve as a watchdog for the right to serve in the U.S. military without regard to "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or militarily appropriate gender expression". It includes within the scope of its mission all active duty, National Guard, reserve and officer training programs.
SLDN provides free legal advice and assistance service members and potential recruits. It works with veterans organizations and allied organizations on behalf of their shared goals.
In June 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Maine* District of Massachusetts...
ruled against SLDN's twelve clients who sought reinstatement in the military after being discharged under DADT.
In December 2010, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 is a landmark federal statute that establishes a legal process for ending the Don't ask, don't tell policy , which since 1993 prevented openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the United States Armed Forces.The Act did not immediately repeal the...
established a process of review by senior military personnel designed to dismantle the DADT policy. In response, in January 2011, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network produced its own plan for ending the policy. The DADT policy was ended in September 2011.
Criticism
SLDN has also received criticism from parts of the Transsexual and Intersex communities, due to the exclusion of these two groups from "Freedom to Serve" events and activism during the DADT debate. Transsexual and Intersex servicemembers are banned from serving openly in the US Military under a "Medical Ban". This ban enforces DADT-style investigations, though unlike DADT can be used to launch criminal proceedings against servicemembers. Throughout its existance, SLDN has refused to state their position on how these bans should be repealed while it has claimed to be the premier LGBTI military rights organisation in the US.SLDN has also received criticism over its presentation of the "Barry Winchell
Barry Winchell
Barry Winchell was an infantry soldier in the United States Army, whose murder by a fellow soldier, Calvin Glover, became a point of reference in the ongoing debate about the law known as "Don't ask, don't tell", which required the US military to discharge service members based on sexual...
Courage Award". Winchell, a Private in the US Army, was murdered after it was discovered that he was dating Transsexual activist and actress, Calpernia Addams
Calpernia Addams
Calpernia Sarah Addams is an American author, actress, musician, and a spokesperson and activist for transgender rights and issues.-Biography:...
. SLDN have claimed that Winchell was gay due to his association with Addams, which therefore allows them to use his name for SLDN purposes. Addams and others have stated however that Winchell was heterosexual, making his murder an act of Transphobia
Transphobia
Transphobia is a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards transsexualism and transsexual or transgender people, based on the expression of their internal gender...
rather than Homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
. This award has never been awarded to a Transsexual person, even though the award was created due to an act of Transphobia and Transsexuals have been involed in prominent DADT repeal efforts.
See also
- Blue AllianceBlue AllianceThe Blue Alliance is an American non-profit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Alumni of the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado...
- Don't ask, don't tellDon't ask, don't tell"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
- Military of the United StatesMilitary of the United StatesThe United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
- Veterans Benevolent AssociationVeterans Benevolent AssociationThe Veterans Benevolent Association was an organization for LGBT veterans of the United States armed forces. The VBA was founded in New York City in 1945 by four honorably discharged gay veterans....
- Witt v. Department of the Air ForceWitt v. Department of the Air ForceWitt v. Department of the Air Force, 527 F.3d 806 is a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of , the now repealed law which excluded openly homosexual people from serving in the United States military, commonly known as Don't ask, don't tell . The United States Court of Appeals for...
- Cook v. GatesCook v. GatesThomas Cook v. Robert Gates, 528 F.3d 42 is a decision on July 9, 2008, of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit that upheld the "Don't ask, Don't tell" law against due process and equal protection Fifth Amendment challenges and a free speech challenge under the First...
- OutServeOutServeOutServe is an underground network of GLB actively-serving military personnel, which launched publicly on 26 July 2010. It is co-directed by a 2009 graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Josh Seefried and Ty Walrod...
- Servicemembers UnitedServicemembers UnitedServicemembers United is an LGBT-interest organization dedicated to the repeal of the United States armed forces' gay-exclusionary policy, commonly known as "don't ask, don't tell". The organization, formerly known as "Call to Duty", formed in 2005 by veterans....
- USNA OutUSNA OutUSNA Out is an American non-profit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Alumni of the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland...