Justice Department Appeals Ruling Overturning Discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy

ACLU Urges Congress To Take Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org

NEW YORK – The Department of Justice (DOJ) Thursday filed an appeal challenging a federal court’s ruling that overturned the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The DOJ also filed a motion seeking to suspend an order stopping enforcement of the statute. The ruling was issued by Judge Virginia Phillips of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California last month.

While the House passed a provision to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year, efforts in the Senate were stymied last month when senators were unable to move forward with a vote due to a procedural hurdle. The Senate could take up the issue again before the end of the year.

The following can be attributed to James Esseks, Director of the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project:

“The government’s decision to appeal this ruling is extremely disappointing. ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is an unconstitutional and discriminatory policy that hurts military effectiveness. It is time to end this destructive policy.”