Solomon Amendment Resistance

SALT continues to stand for equal treatment of all men and women in this country's military, and until such time as gay and lesbian military personnel are recognized for their contributions, we will continue to resist military presence on law school campuses.

July 17, 2008 Update: On July 23, at 2 PM the House Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee will be holding hearings on military readiness.  The continued viability of Don't Ask Don't Tell is slated to be a part of this discussion.  It is the first time since 1993 that DADT will be discussed and it is an important step in repealing the law.  Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and HRC have three witnesses who have been invited to testify.  It will give us an opportunity to develop a record of support for repeal.

Below is the list of subcommittee personnel, if you are have a Representative or know people from a state who have a Representative on the committee please contact them and let them know you support H.R. 1246 (The Military Readiness Enhancement Act) which would repeal 10 U.S.C. 654 and allow for open service.  It is just a quick and easy phone call or e-mail.

Military Personnel Subcommittee - http://www.house.gov/hasc/subcommittee.shtml

Democrats
Chairman, Susan A. Davis, California
Vic Snyder, Arkansas
Loretta Sanchez, California
Nancy Boyda, Kansas
Patrick Murphy, Pennsylvania
Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire
Niki Tsongas, Massachusetts

Republicans
Ranking Member John M. McHugh, New York
John Kline, Minnesota
Thelma Drake, Virginia
Walter B. Jones, North Carolina
Joe Wilson, South Carolina
 

Read the June 29, 2008 New York Times article about the two law schools, Vermont Law School and William Mitchell Law School, that do not permit military recruiters on campus. 

In July 2007, SALT issued its opposition to proposed regulations implementing the Solomon Amendment after the United States Supreme Court decision in Rumsfeld v. FAIR. July 5, 2007 FAIR-SALT Statement re: Department of Defense.

In October 2007, SALT issued another statement opposing the exclusion of certain classes of protected persons from the proposed legislation that would end discrimination in employment against lesbians and gays. October 17, 2007 Statement on Employment Non-Discrimination Act (HR 3685).

For a fuller discussion of SALT's LGBT Committee, click here.

SALT member Kathleen Clark and SALT co-president Margaret Barry at the March 7th Lift the Ban Rally in Washington D.C.