Don't Ask, Don't Tell Documentary, "Ask Not" Showing in Roanoke, Va. (Video)

Roanoke Equality, Metropolitan Community Church of the Blue Ridge (MCC) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) are proud to present the PBS/Independent Lens documentary "Ask Not", which follows the lives and careers of gay and lesbian service members as they tell they compelling stories of serving under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

The policy banning gays and lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. military was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993 as a compromise to lifting the outright ban on gays servicing. According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, in the seventeen years since, over 13,500 military personnel have been discharged under the policy, including 59 Arabic linguists, including Lt. Dan Choi who has made headlines in recent weeks for being arrested for chaining himself to the White House fence for protesting this unjust and bigoted policy.

Two weeks ago, members of Roanoke Equality, including gay military veterans, held a lobbying meeting with the staff of Senator Jim Webb in his Roanoke office. Sen. Webb is on the fence about repealing DADT, pending completion of the year long study on the impact of repeal. Join us Friday evening to learn more about this discriminatory policy and what you can do to fight to overturn it.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, the military leaders charged with conducting the year long study, have told congress to push back repeal efforts until after the study in complete and the results have been analyzed. This could push back repeal until 2013. This is unacceptable. With midterm elections coming up in November, the political climate is likely to be vastly different from what we see today. The time for repeal is now.

The FREE showing will be this Friday, May 14th, 7:00pm - 9:00pm at MCC 806 Jamison Ave., SE, Roanoke in the community meeting room. There will be free refreshments and sncks (donations accepted). The viewing will be followed by a discussion group led by HRC's Terry McGuire. Take a look at the trailer.

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