Pentagon to Meet With Gay Partners

The Pentagon's Comprehensive Review Working Group on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will meet with the Servicemembers United's Military Partners Forum September 16 after military leaders released a survey last week to 150,000 families to learn their concerns over lifting "don't ask, don't tell."

Alexander Nicholson, executive director of Servicemembers United, said in a statement Thursday that he was "honored to be able to facilitate this meeting between the partners of active duty lesbian and gay troops and the leadership and staff of the Comprehensive Review Working Group. The plight of military partners is something that Servicemembers United has led the way on with our Campaign for Military Partners, and we have been pushing for partner input into the review process for quite some time. We are glad that the Pentagon recognizes the value of input from these silent heroes."

The Campaign for Military Partners was launched by Servicemembers United in 2009. The meeting coincides with Servicemembers United's Lobby Day to urge policy makers to lift the ban on gays and lesbians openly serving in the military.