01/04/2008
60 Minutes Army Sergeant Manzella to Speak in D.C.
Army Sergeant Darren Manzella, whose story was featured on the recent 60 Minutes episode covering "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, will make his first public appearance for the Servicemen's Legal Defense Network on January 9 from 6-8pm, at the Army-Navy Club (at 901 17th Street, N.W.) in Washington D.C.
According to SLDN, "The event, which is free and open to the public, will also feature Darren's mom, Nancy Manzella, who is traveling to Washington to support Darren as he speaks out about his experience serving as an openly gay soldier."
Said Manzella shortly after the 60 Minutes broadcast: "I have not received any notification, positive or negative, from my command since I notified them of my participation in the story or since the broadcasting of the segment...I have served with many men and women in Iraq, Kuwait and throughout the United States. In my opinion, they do not care if a service member is gay or straight. These men and women are my brothers and sisters in arms and I am the same to them. I know that what matters to most is not the sexual orientation of the person in your unit. What matters most is if that person is a good worker, a team player and most importantly, if that person has your back when it rewally matters whether it be in a combat zone, during a training exercise or day to day operations. I think that a majority of troops are in favor, or at the very least indifferent, to the repeal of this policy. I find that many are surprised that so much power and influence over the fate of this policy lies in the hands of individuals who are not even in the ranks of the military."
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Posted 10:27 AM EST by Andy Towle in Darren Manzella, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Military, News, Washington DC | Permalink
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http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4050
The blend has an interview and Q&A in the comments section
Posted by: allan | Jan 4, 2008 10:34:00 AM
my god he is good looking.
Posted by: Dan B | Jan 4, 2008 10:51:17 AM
He's hot!
Posted by: Jordan | Jan 4, 2008 11:07:50 AM
I dare Rush or any of those reich wing air bags to call him a phony soldier!
Posted by: Timothy | Jan 4, 2008 11:12:40 AM
I love the last line of his quotation.
Posted by: Michael W. | Jan 4, 2008 11:15:55 AM
He's just so very cute.
I really hope everything turn's out good for him.
Posted by: 1♥ | Jan 4, 2008 11:16:05 AM
"Fist" public appearance! LOL
Posted by: Jere | Jan 4, 2008 11:24:54 AM
MICHAEL W., I loved it too! Unfortunately that's pretty much the case in every single aspect of our society. The very few individuals are the major policy makers are the ones the least affected or directly involved. I'm happy for Mr Manzella.
Posted by: Shabaka | Jan 4, 2008 11:30:30 AM
Manzilla! I just wanted to say it once.
For some reason I feel like the Army wants to discharge him, it's just that his paperwork is sitting at the bottom of a pile on a desk somewhere and they haven't gotten to it yet.
Posted by: junior | Jan 4, 2008 11:49:49 AM
Agreed, Shabaka.
Posted by: Michael W. | Jan 4, 2008 1:03:04 PM
What precisely is going on here? either the military has had a sudden attack of rationality which is soon to subside and in which case this man will be discharged under dadt. or they have a potential lawsuit on their hands involving literally thousands of people who, it seems to me, could justifiably argue that they were capriciously and entirely baselessly discharged from their duties over the previous 15 years.
Posted by: noname | Jan 5, 2008 1:48:56 AM