VIDEO: Straight allies in the military speak out for marriage

June 18, 2013

Today, Freedom to Marry and OutServe-SLDN released a new video featuring three prominent straight allies in the military speaking out in support of gay and lesbian servicemembers and their spouses. The allies explain how they have seen their friends and co-workers hurt by the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, the law that prohibits federal respect for marriages between legally married same-sex couples. 

 

The video is the latest in the joint Freedom to Serve, Freedom to Marry campaign, a digital media campaign that amplifies the stories of gay and lesbian servicemembers and how DOMA hurts their families. For the past year, Freedom to Marry and OutServe-SLDN have been sahring the stories of servicemembers harmed by DOMA. See a full list of videos below. 

Included in this new video are Retired Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett, Army Major Mary Bergner, and former Congressman and Army Captain Patrick Murphy. 

"What a tremendous day when 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was repealed," Retired Rear Admiral Barnett says in the video. "The challenge now is not letting anybody think that it's over. There's still law that embeds discrimination.

The Supreme Court of the United States is set to announce its ruling on DOMA sometime this month. Freedom to Marry and Outserve-SLDN hope the Supreme Court stands on the Right Side of History by striking down DOMA and allowing our brave gay and lesbian servicemembers and their families - and all families - the protections and responsibilities that they so desperately need. 

Freedom to Marry founder and president Evan Wolfson said:

America's gay and lesbian service members are just as brave, courageous, and heroic as non-gay soldiers, yet they are still barred from sharing in the critical safety-net of protections that come with being legally married. No service member should have to worry about their family while they are risking their lives overseas. It's time for the federal government to give gay and lesbian soldiers, their military spouses, and their families the same respect and support that non-gay soldiers receive, and strike down the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. 

Army Veteran and OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson also called for an end to DOMA, saying:

As we await the Supreme Court's decision, we are reminded that this is not just a gay or lesbian issue. This goes to the heart of readiness, retention, and cohesion, and America's service members and veterans - no matter what their sexual orientation - know that this is a discriminatory and harmful law that must be relegated to the dustbins of history.

View these most recent videos in the year-long Freedom to Serve, Freedom to Marry campaign:  

 

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