McAffrey Attends White House Reception Commemorating the Stonewall Uprising

For Immediate Release:
June 29, 2009
Contact: info@almcaffrey.com

Washington, DC – Today Oklahoma State Representative Al McAffrey (D – District 88) attended a reception at the White House, hosted by President and Mrs. Obama, to honor and commemorate the Stonewall uprising. Named for the Stonewall Inn, a bar in New York City that was the site of a violent police raid on June 28, 1969, the raid led to a series of protests that engendered the establishment of gay advocacy groups and empowered gay Americans to begin fighting for the recognition of their civil rights.

“I am absolutely delighted and honored to have been invited by the President to celebrate such a significant moment in American history,” McAffrey said. “Commemorating this event in the White House is an important display of how far we’ve come since that historic day in 1969. Yet, it also reminds us how far we’ve yet to go.”

McAffrey said that although he was grateful for the President’s invitation and willingness to honor GLBT Americans, he still holds out hope that the President will follow through on several key promises he made during his campaign, specifically Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. “President Obama campaigned on the pledge that we must repeal the out-dated policy – don’t ask, don’t tell,” McAffrey said. “As a veteran I can tell you firsthand that I believe this policy is hurting our military and hindering our national security. It must be repealed immediately.”

Congress approved the DADT policy in 1993, allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the Armed Forces as long as they do not disclose their sexual orientation. Since then, the U.S. Military has discharged over 13,000 American troops, costing our military over $363.8 million. (1) On November 29, 2007, 28 retired generals and admirals released a letter urging Congress to repeal the law. The group of retired officers offered data suggesting that 65,000 gays and lesbians are currently serving in the armed forces and that there are more than one million gay and lesbian American veterans. (2)

“President Obama has the power to discontinue this out-dated policy and I urge him to do so immediately,” McAffrey said. “As a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, I truly believe that if a GLBT American has the courage to fight and defend our great country, then they should have the liberty to do so as who they are.”

1. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-14-dont-ask-report_x.htm
2. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/us/30military.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin