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treesahquicheA federal judge in California has ruled that a ban on homosexuals serving openly in the US military is unconstitutional.
The judge said the law violated fundamental First Amendment rights.
The law allows gay and lesbian soldiers to serve if their homosexuality is not known but suspends them if it is. It is referred to as "don't ask, don't tell".
The latest case was regarded as a major test for the law, which President Barack Obama says he would repeal.
On Thursday, US District Judge Virginia Phillips granted a request for an injunction halting the policy.
She said the law did not help military readiness, but had a "direct and deleterious effect" on the armed services.
The Obama administration has promised to introduce legislation repealing it.
It has also announced that the repeal would not be implemented until after the Pentagon completed a review of its impact on the armed forces.
In the past, the issue of gays in the military has divided opinion in the US.
But most Americans now accept openly gay servicemembers, according a recent Gallup poll.
Gays in the US military
Source
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It's awesome that what I've long-suspected to be true has been confirmed by someone with legal and judicial credentials, but I can't imagine that the Obama administration would suddenly stop dragging their heels on repealing DADT, what with elections coming up in less than two months.
The ironic thing is that the Democratic Party would be set back if they lost all their LGBT support (the gAyTM, as I've seen the LGBT support referred to), but the Democratic Party does little else but talk about doing things to get that support, and when they do get that support, they don't seem to follow through.
The main selling point seems to be, "The Republicans are the greater evil; we're the lesser."
The judge said the law violated fundamental First Amendment rights.
The law allows gay and lesbian soldiers to serve if their homosexuality is not known but suspends them if it is. It is referred to as "don't ask, don't tell".
The latest case was regarded as a major test for the law, which President Barack Obama says he would repeal.
On Thursday, US District Judge Virginia Phillips granted a request for an injunction halting the policy.
She said the law did not help military readiness, but had a "direct and deleterious effect" on the armed services.
The Obama administration has promised to introduce legislation repealing it.
It has also announced that the repeal would not be implemented until after the Pentagon completed a review of its impact on the armed forces.
In the past, the issue of gays in the military has divided opinion in the US.
But most Americans now accept openly gay servicemembers, according a recent Gallup poll.
Gays in the US military
- President Clinton wanted to lift the ban in gays in military
- After staunch opposition, compromise "don't ask, don't tell" policy passed in 1993
- Between 1997 and 2008, 10,500 servicemembers discharged under rules
- President Barack Obama pledged to repeal the policy
- Pentagon review announced in February 2010
Source
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It's awesome that what I've long-suspected to be true has been confirmed by someone with legal and judicial credentials, but I can't imagine that the Obama administration would suddenly stop dragging their heels on repealing DADT, what with elections coming up in less than two months.
The ironic thing is that the Democratic Party would be set back if they lost all their LGBT support (the gAyTM, as I've seen the LGBT support referred to), but the Democratic Party does little else but talk about doing things to get that support, and when they do get that support, they don't seem to follow through.
The main selling point seems to be, "The Republicans are the greater evil; we're the lesser."
