The Justice Department filed an appeal Tuesday of a federal judge’s order that found Major Margaret Witt’s discharge under the policy that prohibits openly gay service members was unconstitutional because it advanced no legitimate goals, according to an Associated Press report. Attorneys for Witt argue that she is able to re-enlist in the Air Force even as the government appeals the ruling since the department did not seek a stay of the lower court ruling with the appeal continues. Witt, a flight nurse, was suspended in 2004 and honourably discharged after the Air Force determined she was in a long-term relationship with a civilian female.
Fox News has rejected an advertisement created by the Palm Center in which Generals from allied militaries appear and contend that openly gay military personal do not undermine combat effectiveness. Tuesday, Aaron Belkin, the Palm Center Director, said “I am surprised that Fox News would reject an ad featuring allied Generals, given both host Bill O’Reilly and guest contributor Liz Cheney have expressed support for open gay service. This is an important time for input from all sides on this issue, and I hope Fox will reconsider.” The ad was created in May, 2010, and among those allied Generals is Major General Walter Semianiw, Chief of Military Personal in the Canadian Forces, who says “There is no negative impact of having men and women of any sexual orientation fighting together, be it in Afghanistan, be it in Iraq.” Christopher Neff, the Deputy Executive Director of the Palm Center said “We have reached out to other cable news outlets and still fully intend to air this ad.”
Fred Karger is running, unofficially, for president as a Republican in 2012 and the former aide to Ronald Regan, who came out four years ago, intends to campaign on an almost exclusive platform of gay rights, reports the Atlantic, adding that the ad, beginning Tuesday, will air twice a day on Fox News throughout the state of Iowa for one week. Aside from advancing gay marriage and an immediate repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” Karger aims to attract more gay GOP politicians.
Houston police last Wednesday arrested Nathanial Tyrone Moore at the municipality’s main library for “knowingly entering a restroom of the opposite sex,” KTRK reports, Moore in the process of transitioning from male to female, court records revealing that she pleaded guilty to the charge and spent two nights in jail, for which she received credit. Houston’s Mayor, Annise Parker, openly gay, earlier this year expanded an anti-discrimination executive order that permits city employees to use restrooms based on their gender identity, but that order has created confusion. Monday, Parker released a statement saying “There appears to be a misunderstanding regarding applicability of my executive order and we need to clarify that. This is a matter of providing practical solutions in a diverse city. It is not about behaviour. Where there is inappropriate behaviour, there will be enforcement.”
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