April 23, 2003

Los Angeles - Don't ask, don't tell and don't receive any help. This is the dilemma facing thousands of gay and lesbian military spouses, due to the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

It's an issue that's being addressed by Metropolitan Community Churches, a Christian denomination with a positive outreach to gays and lesbians.

Thousands of partners of gay and lesbian military personnel are denied access to support services provided to heterosexual spouses. How can they ask for help if government policy doesn't allow them to even identify themselves?

Across the United States, civic groups, government programs, mainline churches and non-profit organizations are providing a range of services and support for husbands and wives of heterosexual military personnel.

"Partners of gay and lesbian military people are an invisible group in our society," said Rev. Troy D. Perry, founder and Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches, the world's largest church group with a primary affirming ministry to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender (GLBT) persons. "Due to the military's unjust treatment of its gay and lesbian service members, too many GLBT partners have been left without the support and services provided to their straight counterparts."

"Despite the promise of our nation's creeds, there is no equality accorded to gay and lesbian service memebers or their partners and spouses. This has a very real impact - a harmful, hurtful impact - on these gay and lesbian families who are making incredible sacrifices for their country."

Almost 250 Metropolitan Community Churches across the U.S. are responding to these needs by offering support groups, pastoral counseling, prayer teams, transportation and home-cooked meals. MCC has teamed with the Service members Legal Defense Network to address the needs of GLBT families of military personnel.

These GLBT families are often forced to survive in isolation as the military refuses to acknowledge they exist; government agencies, other churches, civic groups and military support groups have failed to step forward to offer them assistance.

Rev. Perry, himself a veteran of the U.S. Army, again this week called for a change in military policy that will allow gays and lesbians to serve openly.

"This war has brought to light an extremely important issue facing gays and lesbians," Perry said. "A nation that allows closeted gays and lesbians to fight for its freedom, and to risk death and injury, while denying their families any kind of help, has not achieved fairness or justice. Until our government will address these needs, I am calling on all churches and all people of goodwill to respond to the needs of our nation's gay and lesbian military personnel and their partners."

Metropolitan Community Churches