Harvard Law School Lambda, a student organization dedicated to serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, hosted a panel at the law school on Nov. 9 to discuss challenges posed to effectively ending discrimination against LGBT service-members in light of the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. A panel of LGBT veterans, advocates, and policymakers discussed whether non-legislative barriers to inclusion remain for gay service-members, and how, in light of the repeal of DADT, the continued exclusion of transgender people is justified by the military.
Elizabeth S. Auritt reported on the event for the Harvard Crimson. Her article, “Panel discusses post-DADT steps,” appeared in the Nov. 10, 2011 edition of the Crimson and is excerpted below.
Panel Discusses Post-DADT Steps
HLS event examines the lingering problems LGBT service members face
By Elizabeth S. Auritt, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Panelists discussed the remaining steps that must be taken to end discrimination against LGBT service members at a lunchtime discussion on Wednesday, hosted by Harvard Law School Lambda, the school’s LGBT student organization.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the policy that banned gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from openly serving in the military, was repealed by Congress in December 2010.
Wednesday’s panelists included Margot R. Thistle, a volunteer for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, and military veterans Travis Hengen and John N. Affuso, who are both openly gay.
At the event, Hengen and Affuso shared their personal experiences with the policy and discussed the lingering effects of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” on soldiers.