• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Film/TV/Stream
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Tech/Science
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox

Another DADT Trial Begins Tomorrow

Steve Pep September 12, 2010

The trial of former Major Margaret Witt begins tomorrow, just days after a judge in California found "Don't As, Don't Tell" to be unconstitutional. You may recall that in 2008, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stood by its ruling to reinstate her case that challenged DADT. Witt had served as an Air Force reservist flight nurse for 20 years until someone called the Air Force and told them she had a live-in female partner.

The AP reports:

Witt Witt was a member of a squadron based at McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma when she was suspended in 2004 and honorably discharged. She challenged the constitutionality of her dismissal, and a federal appeals court panel ruled in 2008 that the military could not discharge service members for being gay unless it proved that the firing furthered military readiness.

The case was sent back to U.S. District Court in Tacoma for Judge Robert Leighton to determine whether Witt's firing met that standard. Several of Witt's former colleagues are expected to testify that she was an excellent nurse, and it was her dismissal – not her sexual orientation – that caused morale problems in the unit.

Justice Department lawyers representing the Air Force note that the case has put them in the position of defending a law neither the president nor the department itself believes is good policy. Defense Secretary Robert Gates also favors repealing the 1993 law, which prohibits the military from asking about the sexual orientation of service members but allows the discharge of those who acknowledge being gay or are discovered to be engaging in homosexual activity. Government lawyers nevertheless insist Witt's firing was justified – and that the panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not know the extent of her conduct when it sided with her in 2008. That conduct included a long-term relationship with a civilian woman, an affair with a woman who was married at the time and two earlier relationships with fellow servicewomen, Witt acknowledged in a deposition in May.

The trial is expected to last 7 days.

Topics: Military More Posts About: Don't Ask Don't tell, Military

Related Posts
  • Gay Veterans Kicked Out Of Service In Witch Hunts and ‘Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell’ Eras Get Full Benefits 10-Years After Repeal
  • Senior Pentagon LGBTQ Noms Get Clear Voice Vote. No Objections. Out Trans, Out Lesbian Confirmed. ‘Ought to look like America.’ Defense Secy.
  • Bi-partisan Effort To Move 20,000+ Sexual Assault Cases/Year Out of Command Chain Gets Surprise Support of Defense Secy. Austin
  • Anderson Cooper: Shirtless Richard Gere made me realise I was gay

    Anderson Cooper: Shirtless Richard Gere made me realise I was gay

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Anderson Cooper says Richard Gere made him realise he was gay. The 55-year-old TV host – who is the son of late heiress Gloria Vanderbilt and actor Wyatt Cooper – went …Read More »
  • Beirut LGBT protests forced to postpone after death threats

    Beirut LGBT protests forced to postpone after death threats

    Published by Al-Araby Queer rights activists in Lebanon have been forced to cancel protests outside the interior ministry after receiving death threats and warnings of homophobic counter protests. Activists and allies of the LGBT community in …Read More »
  • Abortion decision backs US companies into a tight space

    Abortion decision backs US companies into a tight space

    Published by AFP As companies react to Friday's Surpeme Court decision on abortion, they are trying to avoid similar pitfalls to those faced by Disney after Florida's New York (AFP) – Several large US companies have …Read More »
  • Oslo gay bar shooting won’t stop fight for equal rights – Norway PM

    Oslo gay bar shooting won’t stop fight for equal rights – Norway PM

    Published by Reuters By Gwladys Fouche OSLO (Reuters) – The deadly rampage by a gunman at a gay bar and another venue in central Oslo on Saturday will not put an end to the fight for …Read More »
Previous Post: « Glenn Beck And Sarah Palin Hold 9/11 Event In Alaska
Next Post: Soldiers Impacted Under ‘DADT’ Accompany Lady Gaga to VMAs »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Billie Eilish tells Glastonbury fans to scream away anxieties at history making headline slot

    Billie Eilish tells Glastonbury fans to scream away anxieties at history making headline slot

  • Landmark gun-safety bill heads to U.S. House after Senate passage

    Landmark gun-safety bill heads to U.S. House after Senate passage

  • Prosecutors seek 25-year prison sentence for Chauvin over breach of Floyd’s rights

    Prosecutors seek 25-year prison sentence for Chauvin over breach of Floyd’s rights

RSS Partner Links

  • HAPPY PRIDE — I'LL REPORT THIS WEEK ON TODAY'S EVENTS!
  • Sunday Round-Up: Madonna; Brittney Griner; Trixie Mattel; Gisele Shaw; Frankie Grande & more!
  • Snapped! Tom Daley & Dustin Lance Black in Paris!
  • Showtune Sunday: All about “Anything Goes”
  • Birthday Tribute: “I Love Lucy” icon Vivian Vance was born 113 years ago today
  • Sunday Comics
  • Speedo Sunday

Most Recent

  • Half Of LGBT People Have Symptoms Of Anxiety: Census

    Half Of LGBT People Have Symptoms Of Anxiety: Census

  • Anderson Cooper: Shirtless Richard Gere made me realise I was gay

    Anderson Cooper: Shirtless Richard Gere made me realise I was gay

  • Beirut LGBT protests forced to postpone after death threats

    Beirut LGBT protests forced to postpone after death threats

  • Abortion decision backs US companies into a tight space

    Abortion decision backs US companies into a tight space

  • Oslo gay bar shooting won’t stop fight for equal rights – Norway PM

    Oslo gay bar shooting won’t stop fight for equal rights – Norway PM

  • ‘F*ck BET:’ Lil Nas X BET Conflict Gets New Volley With Release Of New Single And Video ‘Late To Da Party’

    ‘F*ck BET:’ Lil Nas X BET Conflict Gets New Volley With Release Of New Single And Video ‘Late To Da Party’

  • Christian extremists destroy LGBT monument in east Beirut

    Christian extremists destroy LGBT monument in east Beirut

  • Ryan Resch Becomes First Openly Gay NBA Basketball Ops Person

    Ryan Resch Becomes First Openly Gay NBA Basketball Ops Person

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Log in