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Landmark Legislation Introduced to Professionalize the Military Legal System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2013

CONTACT: Cathy Renna, Renna Communications, 917-757-6123, cathy@rennacommunications.com

Landmark Legislation Introduced to Professionalize the Military Legal System
*SWAN Applauds Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Barbara Boxer for introducing the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013*

(WASHINGTON, DC) – At a press conference in Washington today, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) introduced the Military Justice Improvement Act, a landmark bill that would change the way the military prosecutes crimes, including crimes involving sexual assault. Under the current military justice system, commanding officers maintain the authority to control criminal cases as they move through the military courts. This has led to a system that does not provide justice for victims or proper due process rights for the accused. This has been seen recently in the military’s consistent mishandling of sexual assault cases.

The bill would move the authority to determine which cases to send to trial and the selections of judges and juries to professional prosecutors and court administrators in cases involving serious crimes. It would also restrict a commander’s ability to overturn or set aside a court martial conviction, similar to a proposal made by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel earlier this year.

“The current commander-based system is a throwback to the days of the Revolutionary War and was established at a time when military courts did not even exist,” said Anu Bhagwati, former Marine Corps Captain and Executive Director of the Service Women’s Action Network. “The military does not send our troops into battle with 18th century weapons, nor does it treat the wounds of war with 18th century medicine, so why does today’s military continue to use an 18th century legal system?”

“Many of our trusted allies have adopted a modern legal system where decisions to prosecute serious crimes are made by legal professionals rather than commanding officers,” Bhagwati said.

Senator Gillibrand, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Military Personnel Subcommittee along with Senator Boxer was prompted to introduce this bill after holding hearings and carefully examining the military justice system in light of the crisis of sexual assault in the military.

“The issue of sexual violence in the military is not new,” said Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand. “And it has been allowed to go on in the shadows for far too long. Due to a number of hard to fathom events this issue has been raised to the national consciousness. We must seize the opportunity and act so we can get closer to a true zero tolerance reality in the Armed Forces. Congress would be derelict in its duty of oversight if we just shrugged our shoulders at these 26,000 sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, and did nothing. We simply have to do better by them,” Gillibrand concluded.

“In the context of military sexual assault, it is critical that legal professionals handle these cases,” said Bhagwati, who has testified before Congress numerous times on this issue. “Only by establishing an impartial and trusted legal system will victims be willing to come forward to report assaults and perpetrators be deterred from committing them.”

“We’re thrilled about the introduction of the Military Justice Improvement Act and we applaud the leadership of Senator Gillibrand and Senator Boxer,” Bhagwati said.

According to Pentagon reports, there were an estimated 26,000 sexual assaults in 2012. Only 3,374 were reported. Of those reported only 302 cases proceeded to trial.

SWAN is a national nonpartisan civil rights organization founded and led by women veterans. SWAN’s mission is to transform military culture by securing equal opportunity and the freedom to serve in uniform without discrimination, harassment or assault; and to reform veterans’ services to ensure high quality health care and benefits for women veterans and their families. You can follow Service Women’s Action Network on Twitter at http://twitter.com/servicewomen, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/servicewomen..

Award Winning Author Justin Reed Early releases new edition of acclaimed “Street Child: A Memoir”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4823-2356-6

Contact: Cathy Renna

917-757-6123 or cathy@rennacommunications.com

Award Winning Author Justin Reed Early releases new edition of acclaimed “Street Child: A Memoir”
Continuing National Tour Providing Books at No Cost to Homeless and At-Risk Youth (& Social Workers)

CHILD HOMELESSNESS GROWS WHILE FUNDING DECREASES, EARLY’S STORY SERVES AS A REAL-LIFE REMINDER OF THE OBSTACLES FACED BY YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN THE STREETS

Los Angeles, CA, May 10, 2013….Today the acclaimed book “Street Child: A Memoir” was re-released with new chapters and photos by author and activist Just Reed Early. This is a revised and updated version of the book, which has enjoyed success and recognition over the past 4 years, as the issue of youth homelessness is getting more of the attention it deserves. The re-release of “Street Child” includes an epilogue about Early’s repaired relationship with his mother, as well as stories about the current lives of the people with whom he survived homelessness.

Early’s childhood was marred by abuse. He was bullied and assaulted by his own family. He was victimized by Juvenile Court Judge Gary Little who presided over his custody. Judge Little later killed himself upon being exposed as a pedophile and predator by a local newspaper. Early found comfort with his chosen family of homeless youth on the dangerous streets, and found his escape from his pain in street drugs. Most of his friends lost their battles to the more dangerous elements of street culture – but he made it out alive to tell his story – and theirs. Now a successful businessman, he knows not enough is being done to acknowledge and inspire the 1.6 million children each year who experience homelessness in America. More must be done to let them know they can have better, safer lives. Because of this, Early was driven to share his in-depth and personal view of his experiences within the juvenile justice and foster care systems. He strives to share his story with other homeless and at risk young people who find themselves trapped in the revolving door of systematic failure. He also gives his friends a new voice – as many of theirs have been silenced.

“LITTLE DEWAYNE” committed suicide by hanging on his 16th birthday – his life was later portrayed in the movie “American Heart” with Academy Award winning actor Jeff Bridges.

“LOU LOU” was murdered in a street fight while protecting her lesbian girlfriend. She was stabbed in the heart as 3 men taunted her with homophobic epithets. She was 21 years old.

“ROBERTA HAYES” (Justin’s street sister) was the mother of 5 children. Strangled by the Green River Serial killer, her body would lie in a shallow grave in the woods for 4 years. It took 2 more years to identify her remains.

Though many homeless children’s stories end tragically, “Street Child” is in fact a story of hope. Intertwined is a forbidden love, which brings much needed light to the surrounding darkness.

Here is what people have said about “Street Child”:

THE SEATTLE TIMES (Nicole Broduer) “Street Child is not for the faint of heart.”

TODD HOLLAND Multiple Emmy Award winning Director (30 Rock) “Street Child is triumphant!”

STEVEN OKASAKI Academy Award winning Director “You want to turn and walk way, but something pulls you back – it is their tenderness.”

“Street Child” is an in depth and authentic, gritty look at a fascinating life with deadly consequences that discusses many of the elements and causes of homelessness while documenting inevitable outcomes. The writing is raw and real, giving the reader an unique view into a journey no child should endure.

Early continues to persevere on a journey that publishers were too wary to travel. He self published “Street Child” and has been promoting his book with his own resources and volunteers dubbed the Street Team gaining worldwide acclaim and reaching thousands of readers from as far away as Australia, United Kingdom and Czechoslovakia. His book has been defined as a must read which once started, most people couldn’t put down. He continues to inspire homeless and at risk children to write their own stories and to make better choices for themselves. He speaks candidly of his personal healing and the changes that bettered his life and the lives around him, addressing bigotry, racism, addiction. His efforts have proved effective as he continues his literary journey where many assumed he would fail. He receives emails and Facebook messages from fans all over the world.

“I am using my personal story of life on the streets as a catalyst to help others,” says Early. “This tragic turned magical journey has inspired and empowered children, parents and social workers. There is immeasurable loss and yes, people died. But I bring purpose to this pain and to these other children’s short-lived lives. Now, in death, they in turn are helping people too. I am making sure they didn’t die in vain. This is a book by a ‘statistic’ for other ‘statistics’. I wanted to put faces to the startling numbers we know are true. I feel I have succeeded in that. It’s not my successes that will most benefit others. It is my complete and utter failures.”

More about the author:
Early is an empowering public speaker with a humorous and effective personality. Also a businessman, Early was a founding Board member of the popular youth agencies, BAY Positives and Health Initiatives for Youth in San Francisco and served on the Board of Directors for the national agency, National Network for Youth. He remains a dedicated advocate for homeless youth as well as adults who suffer from homelessness and/or addiction. Early currently resides in Los Angeles. A portion of the proceeds from “Street Child” will benefit life enhancing non-profit organizations, including many of those that helped Justin while on the streets. He continues to donate books to homeless shelters, at-risk youth and social welfare workers in the United States. For more information go to www.streetchildmemoir.com.

#homelessness #homelessyouth #suicide #bullying #familybullying #bigotry #racism #addiction #childtrafficking #juvenilejustice #fostercare #spirituallaw #rawandreal

THE FIRST AIDS GENERATION REUNITES AT MAY 9 TOWN HALL FORUM TO DISCUSS SURVIVING THE EARLY CRISIS YEARS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Voelcker (m) +1 917 774-0589

THE FIRST AIDS GENERATION REUNITES
AT MAY 9 TOWN HALL FORUM
TO DISCUSS SURVIVING THE EARLY CRISIS YEARS

“IS THIS MY BEAUTIFUL LIFE?” WILL FEATURE
FOREMOST AIDS EDUCATORS AND SCIENTISTS
DISCUSSING STRATEGIES FOR HEALING THE COMMUNITY

NEW YORK CITY, April 29, 2013 – Hundreds of New Yorkers who lived during the worst devastation of the AIDS years, joined by leading educators and scientists, will come together in a free panel discussion and town-hall meeting to discuss the unique challenges they face as a group.

Titled “Is This My Beautiful Life? Perspectives From Survivors of the AIDS Generation,” this first-ever community forum will take place on Thursday, May 9, from 7-9 pm, in Mason Hall at Baruch College, 17 Lexington Avenue (enter on 23rd Street). The space is wheelchair accessible. The panel discussion will be followed by a public forum for attendees to discuss their experiences, share their challenges and ask questions of panelists.

The event is free but pre-registration is required at www.broadwaycares.org/life. This town hall is particularly targeted at gay men in midlife, whether HIV-positive or HIV-negative; all person living with HIV; former and current AIDS activists, caregivers, and service providers; and New Yorkers who lost friends, lovers, and colleagues to AIDS.

The evening will be hosted by the Tony Award-winning star of Angels in America, Stephen Spinella. It will begin with short presentations by experts on aging, activism, mental trauma, and chronic disease. The panel of experts will be moderated by Dr. Perry N. Halkitis (Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Studies, Professor of Applied Psychology and Public Health, NYU Steinhardt, Professor of Population Health, NYU Langone School of Medicine and author of the soon-to-be-released book, The AIDS Generation: Stories of Survival and Resilience). The speakers are:

EPIDEMIOLOGY & DATA: Jim Eigo, activist, regulatory reformer, writer
ACTIVISM & SOCIAL CAPITAL: Peter Staley, ACT UP New York & Treatment Action Group
MEDICAL: Dr. L. Jeannine Bookhardt-Murray, Harlem United
AGING: Dr. Mark Brennan-Ing, AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
GLOBAL PERPSECTIVE: Jesus Aguais, Aid for AIDS International
GAY COMMUNITY: Joe Jervis, Joe.My.God

“As the youngest of those people now enters middle age, it’s clear that—like soldiers—the AIDS generation suffers even after its fight has abated,” said event co-organizer John Voelcker. “Many members of the group that fought the ravages of the epidemic, buried its brothers and sisters, and endured a war that the rest of the world felt it could ignore seem to suffer what may be something similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Their depression rates are higher, they may engage in unsafe sex, and a few of those with HIV inexplicably stop taking the lifesaving anti-retroviral medications that saved their lives 15 years ago.”

This event has been funded through the generosity of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. It has been organized by The Medius Working Group, a disparate group of activists who seek to honor their late friend Spencer Cox, an activist keenly aware of the unique needs and concerns of AIDS-generation survivors.

Participating sponsors include ACRIA ; The Actors Fund ; Aid for AIDS International ; Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS ; Callen-Lorde Community Health Center ; Center for Comprehensive Care ; Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies at NYU ; Friends in Deed ; Gay Men of African Descent ; GMHC ; Harlem United ; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center ; SAGE ; Sero Project and Treatment Action Group.

KOFY TV Launches SWIRL TV April 28th

First All-Inclusive Television Program in the Bay Area

KOFY TV Partners with Michelle Meow and Swirl to bring you “Swirl TV” Debuting April 28th!

San Francisco, Ca. – April 23, 2013 – KOFY TV20-Cable 13 today announced the launch of Swirl TV, a local all-inclusive television program covering the LGBT, LMNOP and everything in between! Swirl TV will debut April 28th at 9:30PM.

Swirl TV marks an expansion of KOFY’s efforts in providing a platform for the LGBT community. KOFY’s commitment to the community stems back to the 1980’s. KOFY was the first television station in the country to broadcast a Pride Celebration & Parade and has been the official Broadcast Partner of San Francisco Pride since 2008.

Swirl TV, hosted by Michelle Meow, is a thirty minute monthly program advocating fair and equal treatment for all. Swirl TV, a place for open dialogue, multiple viewpoints and acceptance will cover local, national and entertainment news and feature hard hitting interviews with community leaders and members.

“We are extremely excited about bringing the Bay Area a diverse and inclusive show,” said Michelle Meow, host of Swirl TV. “Not only will we cover issues that affect the LGBTQ community, we’ll address issues that all communities can relate to. It’s extremely important and necessary to have open dialogue in order to accept and understand one another. Viewers can expect exclusive interviews with local personalities such as Chris Culliver, cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, Ray Sloan, campaign manager for Dan White (former Supervisor who murdered Harvey Milk) and Dennis Desilva (Dan White’s photographer ).”

Additionally, Michelle will speak with local conservatives about marriage, share intimate interviews with members of the LGBTQ community, discuss Transgender inclusive topics, and report on Bay Area diverse and not so diverse companies.

Kemp Nichol, KOFY TV’s President and General Manager, said “_Swirl TV_ is a great addition to KOFY TV’s Sunday evening Locals Night line-up. We’re thrilled to be furthering the stations commitment to the Bay Area by providing more local, relevant and entertaining programming”.

Swirl TV will air the fourth Sunday of each month at 9:30P.
For KOFY TV20’s full programming schedule, please visit: http://www.kofytv.com/.

Granite Broadcasting Corporation
Granite Broadcasting Corporation owns and operates, or provides programming, sales and other services to 23 channels in the following 11 markets: San Francisco, California; Detroit, Michigan;
Buffalo, New York: Syracuse, New York; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Peoria, Illinois; Duluth, Minnesota-Superior, Wisconsin; Binghamton, New York; Utica, New York and Elmira, New York. The
Company’s channel group includes affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, CW and My Network TV, and reaches approximately six percent of all U.S. television households.

Service Women's Action Network Hosts 2nd National Summit on Military Sexual Violence for Veterans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 17, 2013
CONTACT: Katy Otto, Service Women’s Action Network 
646-569-5219 or katy@servicewomen.org

Service Women’s Action Network Hosts 2nd National Summit on Military Sexual Violence for Veterans

Over 100 Survivors to Convene in D.C. to Advocate for Military Justice Reform; SWAN to Present Awards to Senator Shaheen, Senator Klobuchar, Senator Gillibrand and Congresswoman Sanchez; Keynote by Senator McCaskill, Remarks by Jennifer Beals

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) announced the keynote speaker and award recipients for the second gathering of Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine veteran sexual assault survivors in the nation’s capital, “Truth and Justice: The 2012 Summit on Military Sexual Violence.”

The Summit, held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, April 17 and 18, will provide military sexual assault survivors and their families the opportunity to participate in workshops and share personal experiences with Congress members. The first day will include remarks from members of Congress, a veterans panel on sharing their stories, and a law and policy panel on strategies for system reform. After the awards ceremony, more than 100 survivors participating in the Summit will attend advocacy training and then mobilize at the Capitol to share their personal experiences with their Congressional representatives. These visits to policy makers will take place one day before the House Armed Services Committee begins full mark up of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which contains additional proposals for reforming military sexual assault investigations and prosecutions.

The Summit, held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, will provide survivors and their families the opportunity to share personal experiences with military sexual violence with Congress members and participate in skills-building workshop and panel sessions. SWAN will hold an Award Ceremony and Luncheon, presenting the Lauterbach Award for Truth and Justice to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez to honor their work to eliminate sex discrimination and sexual violence in the military. Senator Claire McCaskill will deliver the keynote address and actress Jennifer Beals, who recently starred in “Lauren,” a web series on military rape, will make remarks.

SWAN Executive Director and former Marine Captain, Anu Bhagwati, said: “This year’s Summit is building on increasing visibility of military sexual violence and recent related policy changes. With the Ruth Moore Act in legislative hearings and the House Armed Services Committee beginning full mark up of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which contains additional proposals for reforming military sexual assault investigations and prosecutions, this Summit could not be happening at a better time. We will have scores of survivors meeting with elected officials and telling their stories, a powerful personal reminder of the impact military sexual violence has on real people and their families. And we will all continue advocating for Congress to act and ensure a fair Veteran’s Affairs claims process for military sexual violence survivors as well as deal with the growing issue of backlog.”

For more information on the Summit, visit www.truthandjusticesummit.org or contact SWAN Communications Katy Otto at katy@servicewomen.org or 646-569-5219. SWAN can also arrange interviews for your outlet.