The following post comes from HRC Volunteer Fellow Josh Cooley
Our crew – HRC’s Regional Field Organizer Christine Sloane, Jessica Kenny, Tom LaValley and myself – raced over to the Queen City itself – Manchester, NH – to gather petition signatures and prompt phone calls into Senator Gregg’s office urging him to support the repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” We focused our efforts around Elm Street where the Annual CIGNA 5k road race was under way. As the runners were ready to compete, we sprung into action! We sprinted from supporter to supporter; gathering signatures from the fans, friends and family surrounding the 6,000 racers.
One of our volunteers, Tom, was saddened to meet a woman who wanted to join the service but was denied due to her sexual orientation. Meeting this young woman and her mother fueled him on to keep working the crowd to repeal this discriminatory law. We got to see firsthand the effects of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which prevent this healthy young woman from serving her country. She is one of so many people who want to serve but can’t. That is what this work is all about. We shared stories, smiles, awareness and some complementary pizza slices given to us as a woman signed our petition to Senator Gregg (thank you!).
As a resident of New Hampshire, I can personally say that it makes me feel so much pride and excitement that there are so many sensibly-minded individuals who care about their troops and their country as much as I do. Thanks Manchester!
Christine Sloane, our Regional Field Organizer in New Hampshire for DADT Repeal, adds:
We’re still here on the ground fighting to show Senator Gregg that the Granite state supports all of our troops and that it’s time to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” This is not only an important issue for the LGBT community, it is essential for the strength of our nation to value, honor and support every able man or woman who wishes to serve his or her country- regardless of sexual orientation. This is it; every one of us involved in this battle is going to be part of history.
Do you want to be part of history, too? We’ll be holding a phone bank on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. to mobilize New Hampshire residents to help repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” We need your help to make sure that New Hampshire continues to stand up for what’s right.
Please email Christine.Sloane@hrc.org for more information.
- What: Phonebank
- When: Tuesday, August 24, 2010
- Where: America Votes Office, 4 Park Street Suite 302, Concord NH 03301
