Retired Navy captain asks to speak to RNC committee on harm caused by DOMA

Chris Geidner:

A retired Navy captain, Joan Darrah, sent a letter to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell today, asking to address the Republican National Convention's Committee on Resolutions in August to talk about how the Defense of Marriage Act impacts her and her wife, Lynne Kennedy.

"Gay and lesbian service members and their families are making the same sacrifices daily as their heterosexual counterparts," she wrote. "Should they not be afforded the same recognition, benefits, and support services from the country they serve? Should they not receive the same support from their 'military family?'"

Darrah was in the Pentagon just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and lost seven colleagues there. She wishes to speak to the committee on how the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) curtails the rights and benefits she and other gay members of the military are allowed compared to other veterans.

This is just asking to speak to the resolutions committee, not to speak at the convention itself. Whether even that will be allowed is unknown. The Log Cabin Republicans have been credentialed to attend the meeting to draft the newest GOP platform, but not without an RNC spokesperson emphasizing "the GOP's commitment to traditional marriage."

Meanwhile, language has now been drafted to officially add support for marriage equality to the Democratic Party platform.