BREAKING: Judge orders US Military to stop enforcing DADT

It’s finally happened: Just over a month since ruling that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is unconstitutional, US District Judge Virginia Phillips has now gone ahead and issued a worldwide injunction against the policy, effectively striking the military’s 17-year-long LGBT ban dead – at least for the time being:

U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips' landmark ruling Tuesday was widely cheered by gay rights organizations that credited her with getting accomplished what President Obama and Washington politics could not.

U.S. Department of Justice attorneys have 60 days to appeal. Legal experts say the department is under no legal obligation to do so and could let Phillips' ruling stand.

Phillips declared the law unconstitutional after a two-week trial in federal court in Riverside. The case was brought about by the pro-gay Log Cabin Republicans.

It’s only disappointing, albeit not exactly surprising, that it took one of ’em darned “activist judges” “governing from the bench” to actually get something done at long last after over eighteen months of failed half-measures by President Obama and the supposedly Democrat-run Congress. Though it happens to show how you really can’t rely on politics to get anything done these days (at least not as long as the Republicans are given any seat at the table), and despite the risk (albeit relatively minor) that the ruling might be overturned following appeals that are almost certain to come, this is one wonderful breath of fresh air for anyone interested in basic common good and equality for all.

I still can’t find a way to express in words just how mind-numbingly stupid, illogical and downright wrong such policies as DADT are (along with opposition to things like same-sex marriage, LGBT adoptions, and so on). I’m just happy Judge Phillips also appears to think so. We need more fair-minded legislators and judiciaries in power, especially in such a time of widespread socio-political struggles and cultural upheaval.

Naturally, I will now keep an eye out for the hysterical doomsayers who proclaim high and mighty how this is yet another example showing how the country is going to the (presumably pink-bikini-clad) dogs. Ain’t that always fun?

Tags: Don't Ask, Don't Tell • DADT • Virginia Phillips • US Military