Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN)

With news that the White House has taken the first step in implementing their transgender military plan, two organizations announced their intent to sue.

WEST POINT, N.Y. — In a historic first for the venerable chapel at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Army veteran Brenda “Sue” Fulton married her longtime partner, Penelope Gnesin, in front of family and friends in a ceremony officiated by Army Chaplain, Colonel J. Wesley Smith of Dover Air Force Base.

A transgender Army veteran has been named to head the newly combined organization advocating for the interests of LGBT service members.

WASHINGTON — Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and OutServe, the association of actively serving LGBT military personnel, on Thursday applauded and celebrated the one-year anniversary of repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” praising the smooth transition the military has made in allowing gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans to serve openly in the military and calling on the White House, Pentagon, and Congress to embrace and advance the final work necessary to achieve full LGBT equality in the Armed Forces.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and OutServe, an association of actively serving LGBT members of the armed forces, on Thursday joined the chorus of advocacy groups calling on the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to abandon its policy against gay scouts and gay and lesbian scout leaders.

WASHINGTON — Two gay rights advocacy groups that fought to bring about an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the U.S. military’s former ban on openly gay service members, announced Monday plans to merge into a single organization.

WASHINGTON — The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who played a key role in the legislative repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is set to appear at an event celebrating the one-year anniversary of the end to the military’s gay ban.

WASHINGTON — Staff Sergeant Anthony Loverde, who was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 2008 under the now repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, will be reinstated and will return to active duty in May 2012.

A Massachusetts federal court has turned down a request from attorneys representing gay troops to move up the deadline for House Republicans to intervene in a case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network on Tuesday marked the six month anniversary of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by calling on the Defense Department to extend available benefits and support to married gay and lesbian service members and their families.