A federal judge ordered an immediate halt Tuesday to discharges of openly gay and lesbian soldiers under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, rejecting the Obama administration’s request to wait until Congress acts on the issue.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips of Riverside ruled the 1993 law unconstitutional Sept. 9, saying it intrudes on service members’ personal lives and freedom of expression and reduces military effectiveness by needlessly excluding qualified personnel.
Her injunction Tuesday requires the government “immediately to suspend and discontinue any investigation, or discharge” of service members based on their sexual orientation.