Utah Log Cabin Republicans

Come Join Us for the World Premier of
At Ease
July 17th—7:30pm
Salt Lake Art Center Theater

A new film by Ryan Slattery about a young Naval Aviator who is killed in action just days before being discharged for being gay, and how his lonely, angry father, and his partner meet and deal with their loss.

There will be a Q&A session afterwards with people involved with the making of this movie, as well as comments by the newly appointed Executive Director of the Log Cabin Republicans and other local leaders.

Steven Fales, creator of "Confessions of Mormon Boy", will also be performing that evening. Steven is launching his new play MISSIONARY POSITION, documenting his missionary experiences as a gay Mormon missionary in Portugal, at the New York International Fringe Festival at the SoHo Playhouse in August this year. For more information on Steven Fales visit his website at www.mormonboy.com or www.youtube.com.

Tickets are $25.00 per person to benefit the Utah Chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans. Then enjoy refreshments and miniature golf on the newly open Contemporary Masters course at the Art Center.

Purchase tickets in advance!

RSVP at ut@logcabin.org

News Release
For Immediate Release
February 1, 2010
Log Cabin Republicans Calls For Full Repeal of Failed '‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' Policy
(Washington, DC) - In advance of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing tomorrow on the legislative efforts to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy with expected testimony from U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Log Cabin Republicans issued the following statement:
 
"As this country remains committed to a strong national defense, now is the time for the President and Congress to act swiftly and decisively to repeal the failed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy," stated Log Cabin Republicans National Chairman Terry Hamilton. "This policy has reduced the strength of our military forces, by disqualifying and dismissing soldiers with valuable skill sets that are critically needed. It is time for the United States military to join the ranks of our allies such as Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Israel, Australia and Canada and allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military," continued Hamilton.
 
A survey conducted by Gallup showed that fifty-eight percent of self-identified conservatives and Republicans support repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. According to numerous sources, since the policy was enacted over 13,000 service members have been discharged, including at least 500 under the Obama Administration.
 
"Log Cabin Republicans remains committed to working with allies in the House and Senate to ensure repeal of this policy legislatively," said Hamilton. "As this process works through Congress, President Obama must use his full executive authority to suspend prosecutions and instruct Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department to suspend its defense of the policy in the Courts. The President cannot have it both ways; he must be in favor of using every avenue to overturn this policy, not just the one that gives him the most credit," concluded Hamilton.
 
Currently, Log Cabin Republicans vs. The United States of America, is the only direct challenge to the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, filed in the wake the Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas. It is also the only contemporary legal challenge to this policy to succeed at the district court level. One of the injured parties named in the case, Alexander Nicholson, is a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who speaks multiple languages, including Arabic, and who was fired because of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law just six months after 9/11. Another injured party in the case, listed simply as 'John Doe,' currently serves in the Armed Forces and would face a discharge if his identity were revealed.

Utah Log Cabin Republicans is the Republican caucus for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community. Utah LCR is an affiliate of the national Log Cabin Republican organization. For more information contact Mr. Nimer at ut@logcabin.org or 801-613-8359.