It is July 29 and anyone who is in tune with the happenings of Congress knows what this means. Soon, our legislatures will be going home for August recess. While most people see "going home" as a 'vacation,' this is not so for our Congressional members. No doubt with the mid-term elections coming around the corner, less than one-hundred days until the vote, you will undoubtedly see your Senators, and your Representatives campaigning in their respective districts if they are up for reelection.

Even if they are not up for reelection, they will use the opportunity to meet with local constituents and 'make face.' This is why Servicemember's Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has teamed up with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to launch their "Countdown 2010, Meet My Senators" campaign. They are attempting to bring in constituents into the battleground states and generally everywhere to put the heat on.

["Just-a-Joe"]

Today,?the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network?announced a?targeted grassroots initiative?with the Human Rights Campaign focused on?key battleground?states leading up?to the Senate floor vote?this summer to repeal?"Don't Ask, Don't?Tell."

Though our work will focus on a number of crucial states,?every state will play an important role?as we seek to secure votes for repeal.?With your help, we can tell?senators that their constituents?want a strong military and will not stand for discrimination and inequality.

Sign up to participate in an in-district meeting with your senators while they're home for the August recess:

http://www.sldn.org/MeetMySenators

With the resources of HRC and SLDN, we'll be able to put maximum pressure on the Senate as we move toward this important?vote for repeal.?Now is the moment for everyone,?from gay and lesbian?veterans to straight allies,?to make their voices heard.

It is critical that we beat back any filibuster threat, defeat attempts to strike repeal, and defeat any crippling amendments. Senators need to hear from us now. Ask your senators to follow the lead of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), who will be managing the defense bill on the Senate floor.

http://www.sldn.org/MeetMySenators

I hope that you will join us in the fight for equality.

Thank you,

Aubrey Sarvis
Executive Director
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

So put to good use your elected officials time home, and make a difference. The fight is long, and long from over, and we need to reach the point of irreversible momentum. Now is the time.