News

Log Cabin Republicans Re-File Federal Challenge to Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy – Continue to Defend Brave Gay and Lesbian Service Members

Statement of Patrick Guerriero, President

May 1, 2006

(Washington, DC) – "More than 18 months ago, Log Cabin Republicans filed the first constitutional challenge to the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in 10 years. Log Cabin filed this suit on behalf of the brave gay and lesbian Log Cabin members serving in the United States Armed Forces.

"A month ago, the Judge in our case issued a ruling demanding Log Cabin provide the Court with the names of injured Log Cabin members. Since Log Cabin filed the suit on behalf of active duty service members, we previously offered the Court affidavits under pseudonym or under seal that clearly established Log Cabin members had been and continue to be injured by this unjust policy.

"While we wholeheartedly disagree with the Judge's initial ruling, the most expedient path to having the Court address the substantive issues regarding the constitutionality of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is to comply with the Judge's order. Accordingly, Log Cabin has re-filed its suit explicitly providing the Court with two injured members. One of those members is Alex Nicholson, who was discharged from the Army pursuant to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. The second member is referred to as John Doe, and is currently serving in our armed forces. This John Doe plaintiff represents scores of Log Cabin members currently fighting in the global war on terror.

"Log Cabin will continue working to support and protect our brave men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day to protect our freedoms – through this case, through legislative lobbying, and by educating the American people."

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About the named plaintiff: Alex Nicholson

Alex Nicholson enlisted in the Army in 2001 and trained as a human intelligence collector (interrogator). Proficient in five languages, Alex was one of three South Carolina residents awarded a National Security Education Program Scholarship from the Department of Defense for his language ability and commitment to public service in 2003. He was a valuable asset to the U.S. Armed Forces until a fellow service member learned about his sexual orientation. The secret was used by a few individuals as a coercive tool for harassment. Although he at first accepted the situation as an additional sacrifice that gay men and women must make to serve their country, Nicholson later submitted to discharge proceedings. After leaving the Army, he resided in the Middle East where he learned Arabic as a fifth language and subsequently earned a Bachelor's degree in International Relations at the University of South Carolina.