Herland Sister Resources

While staging peaceful protests against the military’s discriminatory recruiting practices, 11 young activists were arrested in mid August in separate incidents in Philadelphia and Minneapolis.

The actions were part of Soulforce’s Right to Serve military equality program, which seeks LGBT equality through nonviolent resistance. Earlier in the summer, seven of the activists had attempted to enlist at National Guard centers — but were rebuffed when they announced they were gay.

This week, the activists returned to those recruitment centers and staged a sit-in. The Soulforce protesters were joined by supporters including straight allies and clergy. The potential enlistees were eventually jailed by local police. The activists are fighting the 13-year-old federal “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which bars openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual people from serving in the armed forces.

Right to Serve planned protests in additional cities the week of August 21-25, including New York, Austin, Texas, Chicago and Oklahoma City.