Court Rejects "Don't Ask Don't Tell"

U.S. District Judge Virginia
Phillips of California ruled
yesterday that the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy violates
servicemembers' Fifth Amendment due process rights and their First Amendment speech
rights. She will issue an injunction to halt the policy's enforcement.

Michael B. Keegan, President of
People For the American Way, issued the following statement:

"It has long been clear that the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy is harmful to
brave Americans who want to serve our country and detrimental to the
effectiveness of the armed forces. It is also clear that the policy violates
the constitutionally protected values of individual freedom and equal
opportunity. Judge Phillips has carefully and decisively outlined these
practical, moral, and legal wrongs.

"Don't Ask Don't Tell has been rejected by the President, the leaders of
our armed forces, the House of Representatives, and by the overwhelming
majority of the American people. It has now also been rejected in the
courts. It's time for the military and Congress to promptly
end this disgraceful and destructive policy."