SLDN Congratulates 60 Minutes on Winning GLAAD Award for Outstanding TV Journalism

SLDN Congratulates 60 Minutes on Winning GLAAD Award for Outstanding TV Journalism

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Episode Honored at March 17th Awards Presentation

WASHINGTON, March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) awarded CBS's 60 Minutes with its 2008 award for Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine last night at its 19th Annual Media Awards ceremony in New York. The honor, which is given in recognition of fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the issues facing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, was awarded to 60 Minutes for their examination of reports from Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) of a growing number of openly lesbian and gay troops in the United States armed forces.

"Correspondent Leslie Stahl, and the production team at 60 Minutes, brought to the public's attention the arbitrary and uneven enforcement of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' throughout the armed forces," said SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis. "Many military commands recognize that their lesbian and gay troops are instrumental in the work of defending our country. Those commanders, who want to do the right thing and retain good troops, should not have their hands tied by this unfair law. We are pleased to learn that 60 Minutes reporting of this story has been honored and recognized."

The 60 Minutes episode, which aired Sunday December 16, 2007, featured interviews with SLDN client Darren Manzella and former SLDN board member Cholene Espinoza, an Air Force Academy graduate and the second woman to fly the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. For more information on the program, visit www.cbsnews.com.

For more information on Sergeant Manzella, the 60 Minutes story and SLDN's campaign to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," visit www.sldn.org.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, 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' and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit www.sldn.org.

CONTACT: Victor Maldonado of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, +1-202-328-3244, ext. 123, vmaldonado@sldn.org

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

CONTACT: Victor Maldonado of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network,
+1-202-328-3244, ext. 123, vmaldonado@sldn.org

Web Site:

http://www.cbsnews.com/
http://www.sldn.org/

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