Federal judge orders Air Force nurse discharged under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ be reinstated

A federal judge in Tacoma, Wash., today ordered Major Margaret Witt, a decorated Air Force Reserve flight nurse discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” be reinstated. Earlier this month, a federal judge in California declared the military’s ban on openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members unconstitutional.

Statement by Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey:

Today’s ruling is yet another strike against ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ For the second time this month, a federal judge has affirmed what so many of us already know: ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is discriminatory and unfair. The American public is way ahead of many of our elected politicians on this issue. Nearly 80 percent of Americans say ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ should become a policy of the past. They know it’s wrong and nonsensical to discriminate against patriotic people willing to risk their lives by serving in the military. They know it’s unfair that thousands of qualified service members have been drummed out of the military for nothing other than bias. It’s unconscionable that this policy remains in place. It’s unconscionable that some of our elected officials have chosen to play politics with people’s lives by refusing to end this policy. Today, however, we celebrate and congratulate Major Margaret Witt and the American Civil Liberties Union for this victory for equality.