News

Log Cabin Republicans Prevail Over President Obama's Attorneys, Protecting Servicemember Rights

October 19, 2010

(Washington, DC) – Federal District Court Judge Virginia Phillips has denied the government's request to stay the injunction against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Judge Phillips imposed the injunction halting enforcement of the policy last week after ruling on September 9th that the policy violates servicesmembers' First and Fifth Amendment rights.

"Judge Phillips is right to stand with servicemembers by rejecting President Obama's request to continue this discriminatory policy," said R. Clarke Cooper, Executive Director of Log Cabin Republicans. "It is vital that as a nation we uphold the fundamental constitutional rights of all soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen. With recruiters accepting gay and lesbian applicants and a week having passed without incident, it is clear that our military is well-equipped to adapt to open service, and eager to get on with the work of defending our freedom. As Commander in Chief, the president should drop his defense of a policy which he knows undermines military readiness and threatens national security. The president has said that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' will end on his watch, but is currently standing in the way of its demise. Log Cabin Republicans will continue to fight this policy no matter how many obstacles he puts in the way."

Log Cabin Republicans filed suit in federal district court against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 2004. The case went to trial in Riverside, California in July of 2010, and Judge Virginia Phillips ruled on September 9, 2010 that the policy violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. On October 12, 2010 Judge Phillips issued a worldwide, immediate and permanent injunction against enforcement of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."