Federal Judge: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Is Unconstitutional
A federal judge has declared that the US military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers is unconstitutional.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. A federal judge in Southern California on Thursday declared the U.S. military’s ban on openly gay service members unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips granted a request for an injunction halting the government’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for gays in the military.
Phillips said the policy doesn’t help military readiness and instead has a “direct and deleterious effect” on the armed services.
The lawsuit was the biggest legal test of the law in recent years and came amid promises by President Barack Obama that he will work to repeal the policy.
Government lawyers argued Phillips lacked the authority to issue a nationwide injunction and the issue should be decided by Congress.
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