Fridae

The Servicemembers Legal Defence Network (SLDN) clears the air with the following statement dated September 20, 2001:

Contrary to recent headlines, neither President Bush nor Pentagon leaders have repealed or suspended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass."

What has happened is this: President Bush issued Executive Order 13223 on September 14, 2001 authorising, but not ordering, the Secretary of Defence to consider issuing a stop-loss order in each Service. The Service Secretaries will make that decision in the next two to four weeks. A stop-loss order may or may not include suspension of gay discharges.

C. Dixon Osburn, Executive Director of Service Members Legal Defence Network (SLDN), stated that "service members should continue to operate with the understanding that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' remains in effect. The gay ban has not been lifted.

# # #

SLDN is an independent legal aid and watchdog organization that assists men and women in the military who face witch hunts, death threats, harassment and discharge under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass.' SLDN has directly assisted more than 3,000 military members.