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SLDN
The dinner, which attracts more than 600 supporters to the nation's capital, is the first-ever event honoring LGBT World War II veterans. Eleven veterans will be in attendance, with thirty individuals from across the country being recognized for their service. The organization's dinner will be key-noted by former United States Senator Chuck Robb (D-VA), a Vietnam Veteran and former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "The 'greatest generation' includes often unsung heroes from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community," said C. Dixon Osburn, Executive Director of SLDN. "SLDN is proud to honor these patriotic Americans, many highly decorated for their service to our nation, as we fight to ensure future generations do not serve in federally sanctioned silence." The organization's dinner will also feature the first presentation of the "Barry Winchell Award for Courage," named for Private First Class Barry Winchell. Winchell's mother, Patricia Kutteles of Kansas City, Missouri., will present the inaugural honor to Dorothy Hajdys-Holman of Chicago. Holman's son Allen Schindler, like Winchell, was murdered by fellow service members who believed he was gay. Schindler's killer is eligible for parole this year. Holman has collected more than 70,000 petition signatures opposing parole for her son's murderer. "Dorothy knew, as I knew in the days following Barry's death, that silence was not the answer to her son's murder. She has been a tireless advocate and a courageous mother," said Kutteles. "There was never a question who should receive this first honor in Barry's name." Sponsors include American Airlines, the Official Airline of SLDN, as well as the AOL Time Warner Foundation, Fannie Mae Foundation, The Morrison & Foerster Foundation and Mediapolis, engineers of sldn.org. |
Washington, DC - The 10th Annual End the Witch Hunts dinner is being held tonight
at the Omni Shoreham Hotel here and is being hosted by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a legal aid and advocacy organization assisting men and women harmed by the Pentagon's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. SLDN will honor America's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender World War II veterans.