'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Case in Court (A Dozen Servicemembers Challenging)

[truthpusher]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=914754&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

Jen Kopfstein stands in front of the
USS Midway along San Diego's
waterfront Friday, July 1, 2005. Kopfstein,
who served in the Navy for five years, and
11 other service members are challenging
the military's "don't ask, don't tell"
policy, arguing in a federal lawsuit that
it violates their constitutional rights. The
Bush administration is asking a federal judge
to dismiss the lawsuit in a motion to be heard
Friday in Boston. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Case in Court
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A Dozen Servicemembers Challenging 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Military Policy in Federal Court
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By DENISE LAVOIE
The Associated Press
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Jul. 6, 2005 - A dozen servicemembers are challenging the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, arguing in a federal lawsuit that it violates their constitutional rights. The Bush administration is asking a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit in a motion to be heard Friday.

"It's a terrible policy," said Jen Kopfstein, 30, of San Diego, one of the plaintiffs. "It's very detrimental to morale. It turns people into second-class citizens.

(snip)

During her first five years in the Navy, Kopfstein avoided conversations about her personal life, taking the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy seriously.

"I felt like I was being forced to lie and having to be dishonest," Kopfstein said. "I could never share anything about my family or my home life or even say what I did on the weekend. It is hurtful to do that."

After she finally wrote a letter to her commanding officer telling him she was a lesbian, she was discharged.

more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=914754&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

complete story: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=914754&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[JoFerret]

1. Good for them

....do it now. Very gutsy. True Americans at work

[brooklynite]

2. If they're smart...

they won't argue this as a social rights issue (justified as they are); they'll argue this as a patriotism issue (there's a war on; protecting your loved ones, etc), and let the conservatives wiggle uncomfortably.

[soaky]

3. kick

for courage