Supreme Court Decision Allows Military To Circumvent Non-Discrimination Measures

To: HRC-NEWS [at] LISTS.HRC.ORG

NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign
For Immediate Release - Monday, March 6, 2006

Contact: Brad Luna | Phone: 202/216-1514 | Cell: 202/812-8140
Contact: Jay S. Brown | Phone: 202/216-1580 | Cell: 202/716-1650

Supreme Court Decision Allows Military To Circumvent Non-Discrimination
Measures

"The American government shouldn't be in the business of sidestepping
anti-discrimination policies," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe
Solmonese.

WASHINGTON - Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese made the
following statement regarding today's unanimous Supreme Court upholding
a federal law that requires universities to allow the military
recruiters on campus, circumventing anti-discrimination measures. The
case did not consider the constitutionality of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

"The American government shouldn't be in the business of sidestepping
anti-discrimination policies. This case didn't even address the
military
policy keeping recruiters at bay from thousands of patriotic Americans
who want to serve but can't.

"With substantial support for overturning 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' it's
past time for the military to level the playing field. Americans don't
care if the person who catches Osama Bin Laden is gay or straight; they
just want him caught."

Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights was a free
speech challenge to a law known as the Solomon Amendment, which denies
funding to universities that enforce their non-discrimination policies
against military recruiters just like other potential employers.
Because
of the military's ban on open service by gay, lesbian and bisexual
troops, several universities with policies prohibiting anti-gay
discrimination were threatened with a loss of funding.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in
November 2004 that the schools were allowed to enforce their own
policies. Today's 8-0 decision overturned the earlier decision.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay,
bisexual
and transgender political organization with members throughout the
country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and
educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest
and safe at home, at work and in the community.

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