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October 20, 2010 in Nation/World
Appeals court keeps military gay policy for now
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court today granted a government request to temporarily freeze a judge’s order telling the military to stop enforcing its ban on openly gay troops.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals instructed the lawyers for the gay rights group that brought the lawsuit challenging the policy to file arguments by Monday. The 1993 “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule says gays may serve but only if they keep secret their sexual orientation.
Government lawyers sought to suspend U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips’s ruling while appeals were pending, arguing that it would pose a major problem for the military. They said it could encourage service members to reveal their sexual orientation before the issue is fully decided.
President Barack Obama says he supports repeal of the policy, but only after careful review and an act of Congress.
A lawyer for the Log Cabin Republicans said the group was disappointed with the appeals court’s action.
“We view the decision as nothing more than a minor setback,” Dan Woods said. “We didn’t come this far to quit now, and we expect that once the Ninth Circuit has received and considered full briefing on the government’s application for a stay, it will deny that application.
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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John_Fever_Richmond on October 20 at 11:20 a.m.
I say, “Don’t ask what you can tell.”. Or ask me and and I’ll show ya BIG GUY!!!
John_Fever_Richmond on October 20 at 11:21 a.m.
I say, “Don’t ask what you can tell.”.
spokanecougar on October 20 at 11:28 a.m.
Obama’s administration needs to butt the f**k out. As an openly gay man, I am really tired of this administrations lack of movement on gay rights issues and this is just another slap in the face to my community.
I like Obama and realize he is better than that idiot McCain and crazy psycho Palin would have been, but Obama has been seriously disappointing in moving forward on gay rights, going against everything he said during his campaign.
Thoreau on October 20 at 12:22 p.m.
Sexual preference has no effect on marksmanship, obedience, and the ability to take charge in stressful situations. It wasn’t long ago that our ranks were segregated by race. Let’s allow our servicemembers the same rights as those who they are defending.
DeCaYeD on October 20 at 2:49 p.m.
I think its great. We should next make sure everyone that wants equal rights for man/women animal love or anything else should get is fast!
spokanecougar on October 20 at 3:21 p.m.
DeCaYeD - was waiting for the ignorant typical tea bagger reply given to you by Glen Beck or Bill O’Reilly, congratulations on being the dumbest most ignorant person in Spokane today.
DeCaYeD on October 20 at 3:23 p.m.
Funny, you of all people calling me a tea bagger….haha
cpd805 on October 20 at 3:27 p.m.
Coug, Of course he is not going to butt out. He has to do what is best for the military as a whole, especially in wartime.
I am all for repealing DADT and allowing gays to serve in the military. However, the process to do this is not the stroke of a pen by one Federal Judge. That gives way too much power to one person, and letting it stand as is will certainly cause many to look at it with skepticism and afford it a lack of legitimacy. It needs to be done through the legislature. This is the proper way to do it and will give the outcome a level of authenticity. As it is now, this is a perfect example of legislating from the bench.
I realize that Congress has been slooowww on this issue, and maybe this ruling will light a fire under Congress’ collective a$$.
DeCaYeD on October 20 at 3:53 p.m.
Funny spokanecougar, looking at the majority of your posts, you are the one calling names and dishing out insults…I would say that it is you that is sad and fateful, not sure about the bigot part.
jddavis on October 20 at 3:58 p.m.
You know a person has a weak position when they stray from facts and resort to name calling. If a position is strong, it is easy to back with facts not emotion.
Personally, I don’t know how to take the term “tea bagger” from a self-professed homosexual male. If you disagree with what the Tea Party members believe, fine; how about discussing the points of contention?
WillyPeter on October 20 at 3:59 p.m.
You don’t fool me spokanecougar. To paraphrase Ahmadinejad, “There are no homosexuals at WAZZU.”
Yuk…
spokanecougar on October 20 at 4:00 p.m.
I am angry at people like you that don’t respect the rights of minorities in this country. I don’t hate groups of people like you who clearly hates anyone who is not a straight white religious male.
DeCaYeD on October 20 at 4:01 p.m.
Jddavis makes a great point. My previous comment that got spokanecougar angry was simply that I get tired of everything having to do with who sleeps with who? Are they gay? what color are they? As long as this is always the focal point no progress will ever truly be made.
DeCaYeD on October 20 at 4:03 p.m.
spokanecougar..from what I see, it is the straight white religious male that is the minority anymore.
spokanecougar on October 20 at 4:09 p.m.
DeCaYeD, if you think that, then that is very, very sad and narrow thinking and you should probably try watching something other than Fox News.
DeCaYeD on October 20 at 4:15 p.m.
Sure thing spokanecougar. How can I sign up for your group of sheeple?
cpd805 on October 20 at 4:24 p.m.
Jeez Coug,
I’ve hear you mention Glenn Beck, Fox News, and teabaggers as that seems to be the default argument from liberals anymore. Did you know that Glenn Beck has actually made public comments sticking up for gays demonstrating against DADT on the Capitol lawn, and that gay marriage would not be harmful for the country?
So many people like to lambaste certain people without really knowing what they have said. Rather they like to just spout what they have heard based on reputation and rumor.
I am a tea party movement supporter, Glenn Beck watcher, Fox News watcher (most news watchers are), conservative, religious, etc. But I support the repeal of DADT.
I got this from Glenn Beck regarding gay rights……He quoted Thomas Jefferson : ” If it does not break my leg of pick my pocket, what difference is it to me?”
misjustice on October 20 at 5:00 p.m.
The Obama administration is correct in appealing the judge’s decision; they want to FORCE the issue to SCOTUS.
The Obama administration knows they can not get the Rs and the blue dogs to vote to repeal DADT, so they can not craft the policy change through legislation. Therefor, they are trying to get the case driven up to SCOTUS.; as the court of last resort, SCOTUS can make the constitutional decision which no appellate court can overturn.
President Obama is playing chess, not checkers.
JBlim on October 20 at 5:01 p.m.
Dacayed says: “I think its great. We should next make sure everyone that wants equal rights for man/women animal love or anything else should get is fast!”
Animals are incapable of consenting to sex with humans. It’s not the same as two consenting adults. You may have to move to Cambodia to be legal.
misjustice on October 20 at 6:59 p.m.
JBlim; he may not have to move that far, I thought that Ideeho was down with animal lovin’.
JBlim on October 20 at 7:37 p.m.
My sources tell me it’s a felony in Idaho. Ain’t that counter-intuitive . . .
misjustice on October 20 at 7:45 p.m.
Ooops! Lol!
Well, I guess it’s off to Cambodia, then. ; )