Wed 13 Oct 2010 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A US federal judge has effectively ended the US military's ban on openly-gay troops, by ordering an end to the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. Central District of California Judge Virginia Phillips has issued a permanent injunction, ordering the military "immediately to suspend and discontinue any investigation, or discharge, separation, or other proceeding, that may have been commenced" under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, CNN reports. She previously ruled that the policy violated service members' Fifth Amendment rights to due process and freedom of speech. The military was sued by Log Cabin Republicans, a gay rights group. The Justice Department has 60 days to appeal the ruling. President Barack Obama is pushing for a repeal of the controversial policy. A bill currently before Congress would overturn the measure after a Pentagon review is completed in December. More than 12,500 people have been booted from the military since "don't ask, don't tell" went into effect.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 13th October 2010 - 10:21am