WCL Student Chapter

1. Homophobia has no place at WCL

The WCL chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (WCL NLG) joins the law school community in condemning the homophobia propagated by JAG recruitment and the so-called "don't ask, don't tell" policy (10 U.S.C. § 654), which provides for the dismissal of military personnel who identify as either homosexual or bisexual. The WCL NLG categorically rejects discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people. We stand with GLBT students and their allies in opposition to this discriminatory hiring policy and the repression inflicted by the U.S. military on citizens who wish to serve in the armed forces. The JAG's presence today should be a reminder to all that there is no place at this law school for homophobia.

1. "National Security" is not the basis for our support of GLBT students.

The WCL NLG has chosen not to endorse the "Unity Poster" collectively expressing our law school's protest of JAG recruitment. We do not support the "National Security" rhetoric of the Unity statement, which reads as follows:

Lift the Ban.

Promote National Security.

Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

The WCL NLG believes that "National Security" rhetoric does not effectively substantiate GLBT rights. This rhetoric serves no purpose but to appeal to those who view militarism as more vital than human rights. "National security" arguments are invoked to justify illegal wars, torture, and other human rights and civil liberties violations.

This law school community must oppose sexual orientation discrimination in and of itself. The cause is not helped by appeals to militarism. The WCL NLG wishes to fight homophobia and discrimination head on—not as a pragmatic means to ambiguous, jingoistic ends buoyed by the phrase "national security."

THE ARAB LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION THE SOUTH ASIAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION and STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL