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Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to be Addressed in Town Hall Forum, Workshop Preceding Presidential Debate

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recently, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) announced that Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis and Retired Rear Admiral James ("Jamie") Barnett will be speakers at the Sept. 24 Town Hall Forum and the Sept. 25 workshop at The University of Mississippi in advance of the first Presidential Debate of the 2008 Election.

"I look forward to the upcoming forum and workshop as an opportunity to educate the public about the failure of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and ensure that this important issue remains part of the national debate in this year's election," Sarvis said. "Voters need to understand how this ban has undermined our military's readiness in a time of war. More than 12,500 well-qualified service members have been fired under this bad law while our military is already stretched too thin and the need for an effective fighting force grows greater by the day."

The Town Hall Forum, which will take place in the Paris Yates Chapel at 7 p.m. Sept. 24, will feature lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) leaders from around the country addressing issues impacting the LGBT community in relation to the 2008 election. The event will be hosted by The University of Mississippi's Gay Straight Alliance.

At 3 p.m. Sept. 25, SLDN will host a workshop entitled "Legislative Opportunities to Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' in New Congress and Administration," in the Harrison Room of The University of Mississippi Library. During this time, Sarvis will discuss how the new political landscape following the 2008 Elections will provide new momentum in the ongoing fight to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Retired Rear Admiral Barnett, a native ofMississippi and University of Mississippi Alumnus, will share insights on how this failed, discriminatory policy severely undermines U.S. military readiness and recruitment during a critical time of war.

Sarvis will be available for interviews before and after each of these events. He will also be available for interviews the evening of the Sept. 26 Presidential Debate, starting 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express (112 Heritage Dr.) in Oxford.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit www.sldn.org. A "Guide to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' " for journalists is available at http://www.sldn.org/binary-data/SLDN_ARTICLES/pdf_file/4924.pdf.

SOURCE Servicemembers Legal Defense Network