OutServe-SLDN to Army Secretary Nominee Mark Green: 'You're on notice'

LGBT Military Organization Launches Citizen Filibuster Campaign and Announces Collaboration with Other LGBT Advocacy Organizations to Block Green's Nomination

(WASHINGTON) May 2, 2017 – The nation's oldest and largest LGBT military organization today put Army Secretary nominee Mark Green on notice and announced the launch of a citizen filibuster campaign aimed at blocking the nominee from confirmation in the United States Senate. The campaign will be constituent-driven to highlight the concerns and opposition of service members, veterans and their families to Mr. Green's record and confirmation as Army Secretary. Matt Thorn, Executive Director for OutServe-SLDN, issued the following statement announcing the campaign:

"Mark Green is now denying, deflecting and distracting from his prior anti-LGBT actions, but his record speaks for itself. The U.S. Army deserves a Secretary who values duty over division and honor over hatred. When it comes to progress at the Pentagon, Mark Green as Secretary of the Army will be a grenade in the tent. Mr. Green's anti-LGBT, anti-Muslim, anti-women record in the Tennessee legislature stands in stark contrast to the American values of justice, fairness and tolerance we all hold dear. He must not be confirmed.

"Today, we are making it crystal clear to Mr. Green and the Trump administration that we will use every legal avenue and constitutionally granted right to stop any action attempting to rescind the policies that have granted LGBT service members the ability to serve openly and authentically, that protect them from harassment and discrimination, and that grant their families equal treatment.

"OutServe-SLDN's citizen filibuster campaign will clearly demonstrate the broad opposition to this nominee. We are asking that individuals sign their names to a new joint letter and to call their respective Senators and urge a no vote on Mark Green as Secretary of the Army. We are pleased and proud to be collaborating with the National Center for Trans Equality and Equality California on this campaign. Together, we will highlight the negative impact that Mark Green would have on the Army if confirmed.

"For too long our community was marginalized, discriminated against and persecuted in the armed services with Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) and the ban on transgender service members. We will not go back and we will not tolerate a bigot heading the largest Army in the world.

"LGBT servicemembers and veterans have served this nation since its' founding and have fought and died to protect our freedoms. They should never again be separated into a lesser class of citizens because of their sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity. And they should never again be subject to discrimination simply because they are trying to serve their country. But that's exactly what the nomination of Mark Green espouses.

"We urge a no vote on Mark Green and we will be engaging key constituencies online and in person to raise our voices in opposition to this harmful nomination."

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OutServe-SLDN (OS-SLDN) is the largest non-profit, legal services, advocacy and policy organization dedicated to bringing about full LGBT equality to America's military and ending all forms of discrimination and harassment of military personnel on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. With more than fifty chapters and 60,000 subscribers around the world, OS-SLDN supports a professional network of LGBT military personnel and strives to create an environment of respect in the military with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity. OS-SLDN provides free and direct legal assistance to service members and veterans affected by the repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and the prior regulatory ban on open service, as well as those currently serving who may experience harassment or discrimination. For more information, visit www.outserve-sldn.org.