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participated in the National Black Justice Coalition’s press conference Dec. 8
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.1 e w e i r y
community makes important, lasting contribu
tions to our armed forces,” he said. "Our nation
frican American queer leaders and activists
should salute them for their service, their hon
/ \ have launched a campaign to generate
black support for same-sex marriage and to fight
esty and their courage."
against the recently proposed Federal Marriage
The officers also joined 13 other retired senior
military leaders in issuing a statement condemn
Amendment.
ing the gay han. “There is one inescapable con
Speaking at a press conference Dec. 8 in
clusion— ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ does not work and
Washington, D.C., members of the National
should he repealed,” they said. “Tixlay, no credi
Black Justice Coalition vowed to engage all
major black political and civil rights leaders and
ble evidence exists to support a continued han.
many black religious leaders to support their
Indeed, all studies, including those commissioned
by the Pentagon, have come to that conclusion."
effort. The group also called on all black civil
rights organizations and political leaders to take
The Times story and statement came on the
a strong position against the amendment.
10th anniversary of the “don’t ask, don’t tell”
“African Americans support civil rights for all I policy. Since it became law, nearly 10,000 men
Americans, and our judgment will not he cloud and women have been discharged for being gay,
ed by the smoke and mirrors of a few vocal oppo lesbian or hi. According to figures from the
nents,” s<tid best-selling author Keith Boykin, one
General Accounting Office, the cost alone of
of the coalition members. The group also
training replacements for those discharged has
includes Cambridge, Mass., City Councilor Ken
exceeded $300 million in the past decade.
Reeves and Mandy Carter of Freedom to Marry
and Southerners on New Ground.
“The right wing fired the first shots in this
battle, hut today we fire hack,” said coalition
member Donna Payne, Human Rights Gun-
paign senior constituency field organizer. “We
will not allow the out-of-touch radical right to
divide the black community on this issue."
The coalition announced a major national
campaign that will include raising and spending
$100,000 for targeted advertisements in the
black media, developing a Web site to counter
right-wing misinformation and holding press
conferences to announce new allies. The group j Retired Brig. Gen. Virgil A. Richard, Rear
already has the support of Coretta Scott King;
Adm. Alan M. Steinman and Brig. Gen.
U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.; former U.S. Sen.
Keith Kerr spoke out against “ don’t ask,
Carol Moseley Braun, D-III.; the Rev. Al Sharp-
don’t tell” on the policy’s 10th anniversary
ton; actress Whoopi Goldberg; and several other
-v-
key African American public figures who have
come out in favor of same-sex marriage.
he U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Assoc ia-
tion hoard of trustees unanimously rejected
a proposal Dec. 5 to create a chapter for its gay,
wo generals and an admiral publicly
lesbian, hi and trans graduates.
acknowledged their sexual orientation for
U SN A Out had filed a petition for official
the first time Dec. 10 in The New Ytrrk Times.
recognition on Veteran’s Day last month. Jeff
The three retired officers are the highest-
Petrie, the group’s elected president, said the deci
ranking military leaders to reveal they are gay.
sion against recognizing U SN A Our was based on
Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr, Brig. Gen. Virgil A.
the hoard’s desire to exclude gay men and lesbians
from establishing a formal alumni chapter.
Richard and Rear Adm. Alan M. Steinman said
the military’s queer ban damages readiness and
According to the association’s official state
the recruitment and retention of service-
ment, the board denied the request because it
members. They also called on the Pentagon to
did not want to establish a chapter that served a
curb anti-gay harassment. They said they hoped
"discreet group": “The alumni association has
other officers would follow their lead.
never before chartered a special-interest chapter
C. Dixon Qsbum, Servicemembers Legal
and does not want to begin that practice.”
Defense Network executive director, praised
Rather, the statement says, the association will
Kerr, Richard and Steinman for their courage.
sanction chapters on the basis of geography.
“They provide irrefutable evidence that our
However, Petrie noted that the association has,