Servicemembers United Launches 'Servicemembers United Action Fund'

New 501c4 Affiliate Will Engage in More Overt, Hard-Hitting Political Activity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

07/26/2010

Contact

Clint King: O 202.349.3803 | C 803.960.3754 | cking@servicemembersunited.org 

Alex Nicholson: O 202.349.1126 | C 202.531.4839 | anicholson@servicemembersunited.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, announced today that it has incorporated and launched a new 501c4 affiliated organization called the Servicemembers United Action Fund. The new affiliate will take over and expand Servicemembers United's grassroots organizing work and will also develop and launch a series of web and television ads on the topic of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in August, among other targeted activities.

"We are very excited and proud to be launching the first 501c4 affiliate organization dedicated to the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' issue," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army interrogator who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "This represents another big step forward for the gay military and veteran community and another weapon in our community's arsenal as we move into a critical period for the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' issue."

Nicholson will now serve in a dual role as the Executive Director of both Servicemembers United and the Servicemembers United Action Fund. The Servicemembers United Action Fund will share office space with Servicemembers United in Washington, DC, as well as some Servicemembers United staff.

Organizations that are organized under section 501c4 of the Internal Revenue Code are allowed to engage in unlimited lobbying activity, an important distinction. Servicemembers United, a 501c3 organization, will continue and expand its mission to educate the public about issues that impact gay and lesbian troops and veterans and to built a strong and vibrant gay military community for the post-"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era.

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Servicemembers United, a non-profit and non-partisan organization, is the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their allies. Based in Washington, DC, Servicemembers United actively engages in education and advocacy on issues affecting the gay military, veteran, and defense community.

The Servicemembers United Action Fund, a non-profit 501c4 organization, actively engages in advocacy and lobbying on issues affecting the gay military, veteran, and defense community.