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By Bill Goldston |
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November 28, 2010 - Major Margaret Witt, a decorated flight nurse who had been dismissed under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, will be able to resume her service with the U.S. Air Force. Major Witt will become the first openly gay person to serve in the military due to a court order under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) has represented Maj. Witt in a four-year-long lawsuit seeking her reinstatement.
In September, the U.S. District Court for
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Although the ruling left in place the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, it sent the case back to the trial court saying that before discharging a soldier under the policy, the military must prove that the individual's conduct actually hurts morale and unit cohesion. This requirement is now known as the "Witt Standard." "We look forward to the day when all members of our military can serve our country without invidious discrimination. To discharge her simply because of her sexual orientation was entirely unfair to her and unwise for the military, which needs her significant skills," said ACLU of Washington Executive Director Kathleen Taylor. |
"The
A 1986 graduate of
Maj. Witt served in Oman during Operation Enduring Freedom and received
a medal from President Bush, who noted that she had delivered
"outstanding medical care" to injured service members and that her
"outstanding aerial accomplishments.?reflect great credit upon herself
and the United States Air Force." In 2003, Maj. Witt received another
medal for saving the life of a Defense Department employee who collapsed
aboard a government chartered flight from
"What the federal court found is what we already know to be true ?
allowing lesbians and gay men to serve their country honestly and openly
does not cause problems in the military," said James Esseks, Director of
the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project. "In light of
that, the administration should cease its senseless defense of this law
in the courts, and work with Congress to repeal it once and for all." From 1997 to 2003, Maj. Witt was in a committed relationship with a civilian woman. In the summer of 2004, Maj. Witt was notified that the Air Force had begun an investigation into an allegation that she had engaged in homosexual conduct. She was placed on unpaid leave and told she could no longer participate in any military duties, pending formal separation proceedings. She was administratively discharged on grounds of homosexual conduct in 2006. |
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