GLAAD URGES MEDIA TO SPOTLIGHT IMPACT OF "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" ON SERVICE MEMBERS

New York, NY, December 9, 2010 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, expressed disappointment today after the U.S. Senate blocked legislation that would have repealed the military's policy of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' "The Senate's inaction on the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is not only disappointing, it undermines our national security and continues the unfair practice of discharging critical and skilled service members," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. "Today the media needs to amplify the voices of those patriotic and dedicated personnel being unfairly discharged simply because of who they are as well as the overwhelming support from the public and high-ranking military official to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'" A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/25/cnn-poll-nearly-8-in-10-favor-gays-in-the-military/) released earlier this year indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay and lesbian people to serve in the military. GLAAD's National News team has been working along-side other advocacy organizations for years to share the stories of gay and lesbian service members and has media-ready service members ready to speak on this issue.