With the legislative repeal of DADT apparently going nowhere other than a slow death in the U.S. Senate, three decorated veterans discharged under DADT have filed suit in federal court seeking reinstatement under the so-called Whitt standard formulated by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The courts do seem to be the only forum in which the irrational and discriminatory purpose of DADT isn't upheld by political games and the bigotry of individuals like John "McSenile" McCain or the spinelessness of the Liar-in-Chief. The suit was filed on behalf of Air Force veterans Michael D. Almy and Anthony J. Loverde, and former Navy Petty Officer Jason D. Knight, and aims to show that their discharges harmed the military as opposed to protecting it. Here are highlights from the Los Angeles Times:*
Three decorated military veterans discharged because they are gay filed suit Monday in San Francisco seeking reinstatement and another federal court judgment that the Pentagon's ban on openly gay and lesbian personnel in the military is unconstitutional.
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The lawsuit should serve as "a shot across the bow" to put Congress on notice that if lawmakers fail to repeal the law, those who oppose it will turn to the courts for relief, said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
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Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a Washington-based nonprofit committed to ending "don't ask, don't tell," and the law firm of Morrison & Foerster filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of three men "who want nothing more than to put their uniforms on and get back overseas to serve their country," said M. Andrew Woodmansee of the law firm's San Diego office.
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The suit was filed on behalf of Air Force veterans Michael D. Almy and Anthony J. Loverde, and former Navy Petty Officer Jason D. Knight. All three had been awarded numerous medals and commendations for their service before they were discharged.
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