SAN DIEGO -- A San Diego reception marks the beginning of a six city whistle-stop tour of communities in the Western U.S organized by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) to highlight efforts to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The tour, which takes SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis from San Diego to Palm Springs before making stops in Las Vegas, Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, is an initiative aimed at educating Americans on efforts to lift the ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel.

"We are here to engage San Diegans in the effort to lift the ban on gays in the military. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' results in the loss of thousands of talented, skilled service members our military needs," said Sarvis. "Change doesn't come from Washington, it begins with the American people -- it starts right here in San Diego. Poll after poll show Americans favor lifting the ban, so we need to turn that support into a call for action that Congress cannot ignore."

According to Gary Gates at UCLA's Williams Institute, San Diego is home to over 21,000 lesbian and gay military veterans; another 115,000 call California home. An estimated 65,000 lesbian and gay service members serve on active duty and in the reserves of the United States armed forces.

Since 1993, more than 12,000 men and women have been dismissed under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), which would repeal the law mandating that the U.S. military fire lesbian and gay employees, currently has 142 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, including San Diego Representatives Susan Davis and Bob Filner.

Congresswoman Davis recognizes the need to sway public opinion in the effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." She has pressed the issue in hearings before the House Armed Services Committee. As Chair of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, Davis plans to hold a hearing this year on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

The reception will be held on April 24, 2008 from 5:30-7:30pm at the home of Captain Art Kelleher, MC, USNR (Ret.) located at 2435 Pamo Avenue, San Diego, CA. Media interested in attending should contact Victor Maldonado at vmaldonado@sldn.org.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit http://www.sldn.org/.