Human Rights Campaign
Statement on Military High Court Ruling
Human
Rights Campaign, August 24, 2004
1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-3278
Email: hrc@hrc.org
For Immediate Release
Contact: Steven Fisher
Phone: (202) 216-1547
Cell: (202) 431-7608
Contact: Mark Shields
Phone: (202) 216-1564
Cell: (202) 716-1637
“This discriminatory policy must be struck down,”
said HRC President Cheryl Jacques.
WASHINGTON—The Human Rights
Campaign issued the following statement regarding United States v. Marcum, a
case handed down yesterday by the military’s highest court of appeals. The
court did not address the overall constitutionality of the armed forces’ ban
on private, consensual sodomy, known as Article 125 of the Uniform Code of
Military Justice. The court found instead that Marcum’s involvement with a
subordinate took the case outside of the realm of Lawrence v. Texas, the
Supreme Court case that struck down sodomy laws nationwide.
“This discriminatory policy must be struck down,”
said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. “We’ll continue to work with
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and other groups to ensure that all
members of our armed forces are treated equally.”
This decision does not directly affect the “Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
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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