Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Honored with 2011 Harmony Award
Posted on January 28, 2011 by tgrant in Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Honored with 2011 Harmony Award
to be presented at Let’s Hear It For The Boys, with special guest Major Mike Almy
January 28, 2011 – Saturday, February 12 at 5 pm and 8 pm, 2011 the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC will present its annual Harmony Award to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) an organization that has made significant contributions to the lives of GLBT individuals, nationwide. SLDN will be specifically honored for their tireless work toward ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) in the United States. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington will present the award at Let’s Hear It For The Boys, a concert honoring gays and lesbians in the military that also celebrates the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal, with a guest appearance from former Air Force Major Mike Almy, plaintiff in a federal suit challenging DADT.
“Five years ago my 13 year career as an officer in the US Air Force was quickly coming to an end because of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” after my private emails were searched in Iraq. SLDN stood beside me with valuable legal counsel, as they have done for thousands of other service members over the 17 year life of this discriminatory law,” remarked Major Mike Almy. “This past year I was honored to once again work with SLDN in the historical fight to end this law. Together we’ve walked the halls of Congress telling the truth about the devastating reality of this law that has weakened our national security and ended the careers of over 14,000 patriotic Americans. In December we watched the president sign this repeal into law and take a huge step towards full equality for all LGBT Americans.”
ABOUT THE SERVICEMEMBERS LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). We work to end DADT, to ensure parity for LGBT service members, and to provide free, confidential legal services to all those impacted by DADT and related discrimination. Since 1993, our in-house legal team has responded to more than 10,000 requests for assistance.
ABOUT THE GMCW HARMONY AWARDS
The GMCW Harmony Award recognizes individuals and organizations that exemplify the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s mission to “affirm the place of gay people in society.” Previous recipients have included John Berry, US Office of Personnel Management; Hon. Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor, District of Columbia; The Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson; Immigration Equality; the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit; , GLBT community activists Peter D. Rosenstein and Frank Kameny; Deacon Maccubbin and Jim Bennett, owners of Lambda Rising Bookstores, the Washington, DC, Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); The Mautner Project, the National Lesbian Health Organization; Food & Friends; Councilmember David Catania; and the international law firm of Holland & Knight.
ABOUT LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS
The second show of their 30th Anniversary Season Let’s Hear It For The Boys, features a Chorus of over 150 singers, and GMCW select ensemble Rock Creek Singers with special guest, Major Mike Almy. The concert is a gay USO-style show honoring GLBT service members and veterans. Let’s Hear It For The Boys takes place on Saturday, February 12, 2011, with shows scheduled for 5 pm and 8 pm at Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G Street NW. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at www.GMCW.org, by calling (202)293-1548, or at the door. Group Rates are available.
The production is sponsored by Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse, the Washington Blade, and with generous support from Steve Herman & John DiBenedetto and presenting sponsors Jim & Barbara Tozzi and Melbourne Jenkins & Juan Febles.
ABOUT MAJOR MIKE ALMY
Mike Almy joined the US Air Force in 1993 after graduating from Wright State University, where he earned his commission through Air Force ROTC, as a distinguished graduate. He served a total of thirteen years on active duty as a communications officer before he was discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2006. In his last position in the Air Force he led a team of nearly 200 men and women, responsible for operating and maintaining the command and control systems used to control the airspace over Iraq. His discharge process lasted sixteen months and started after the Air Force searched his private emails in Iraq.
During his career in the Air Force Mike has been stationed at Kelly AFB, Texas, Randolph AFB, Texas, Scott AFB, Illinois, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, Quantico MCB, Virginia, Ramstein AB, Germany and Spangdahlem AB, Germany. He deployed to the Middle East four times during his career, supporting Operation Desert Fox, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has a master’s degree from Webster University, and is a graduate of Marine Corps University and Air University. His decorations include the Joint Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and the Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign Medal. He was named Officer of the Quarter, and Officer of the Year several times throughout his career. In 2005, he was named the top communications officer for the Air Force in Europe. In 2006 he was recommended for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, even as the Air Force was actively seeking to discharge him under DADT.
Since his discharge from the military Mike has worked as an IT consultant in the Washington, DC area, on projects for the Department of State and Department of Defense. His hometown is Dayton, Ohio. He has been an advocate for repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell by testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee and lobbying members of Congress. He spoke alongside Senators Lieberman and Levin when the bill to repeal DADT was introduced in the Senate. He has been interviewed on NPR, CNN, The Associated Press, The Rachel Maddow Show, Kathy Griffin’s, My Life on the D List and the Advocate. He also escorted Lady Gaga to the MTV Video Music Awards and spoke at the repeal rally she held in Maine, before the vote in the Senate.
To learn more about former Air Force Major Almy and SLDN, go to www.sldn.org.
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The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC is one of the area’s most highly respected arts and community service organizations. Its mission is to “entertain through excellent musical performance, to affirm the place of gay people in society and to educate about the gay experience.” It has more than 270 singing members, nearly 100 support volunteers, more than 500 subscribers, nearly 500 donors, and an annual audience of nearly 10,000. The Washington Post has called GMCW “one of the world’s best male choruses.” (March 2001)
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