Post Date: October 9, 2003

C. Dixon Osburn

This week, on October 10 and 11, the Harvard Law School chapter of Lambda will host a conference on the United States' policy toward gays and lesbians in the military. Participants will consider the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas on military integration, the legality of the Solomon amendment, and the place of the military issue in the movement for gay and lesbian equality.

The conference will begin on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the Austin West classroom. The first day will feature a keynote address by C. Dixon Osburn, president of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. The second day will include a morning panel entitled "Gay Hawks, Queer Doves: Why Should We Want In?" followed by an afternoon panel entitled "Unconstitutional Conditions, Spending Power and the Solomon Amendment." All events are free and open to the public.

BACKGROUND

Solomon Amendment:
The Solomon Amendment, which became law in 1996, gives the secretary of defense the power to deny federal funds to institutions of higher education that limit ROTC or military recruitment on campus. Most American law schools require all on-campus recruiters to sign a statement of nondiscrimination. The U.S. military has been unable meet this requirement due to its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gays and lesbians.

Lawrence v. Texas:
Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas that anti-sodomy laws are unconstitutional.