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Texas Gov. suggests Gay war veterans should leave state

Texas Gov. suggests Gay war veterans should leave state
FORT WORTH Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry on Sunday insinuated the states Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual war veterans should leave the state if they are unhappy with a recent anti-Gay marriage amendment introduced there, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). During a news conference held in a Fort Worth church, Perry was asked what he would tell Texas Gay and Lesbian war veterans returning home from war about the law. Gov. Perry responded, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, by saying that Texans made a decision about marriage and if theres a state that has more lenient views than Texas, then maybe thats a better place for them to live. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network joined calls by the Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby of Texas for Gov. Perry to apologize. More than 66,000 Lesbian and Gay veterans make their home in Texas, said Sharra E. Greer, SLDNs director of law and policy. Their service has defended the freedom of every Texan, including Governor Perry. The Governors remarks dishonor their service and he should immediately apologize. We should be thanking these brave men and women, not asking them to leave. Colonel Paul W. Dodd, a retired Army Chaplain and SLDN honorary board member who now lives in Texas, also called on Gov. Perry to apologize. Gays and Lesbians have defended our country since the American Revolution, Dodd said. Governor Perrys remarks were outrageous and offensive and do not reflect the views of fair-minded Texans who value the service of our men and women in uniform. It is past time that those who fight for freedom abroad be afforded those same liberties here at home. In an interview with United Press International in March, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) told correspondent Pamela Hess that We...(cannot be) falling victim to the idea we have throwaways in our society, that Americans willing to serve can be thrown away. We are losing some of Americas best and brightest talents. For more information, visit the Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby of Texas online at www.lgrl.org. SLDN news release