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Major Margaret Witt To Rejoin Air Force As Obama Admin. Appeals DADT Ruling
By Carlos Santoscoy — On Top Magazine
Published: November 24, 2010
 U.S. Air Force Major Margaret Witt, a flight nurse who was discharged in 2006 for violating “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the 17-year-old law that bans gay and bisexual troops from serving openly, will rejoin the military even as the Obama administration appeals a federal judge's ruling. Witt becomes the first openly gay person to return to the military by court order after being discharged under DADT.
After a six-day trial, U.S. District Court Judge Ronald B. Leighton ruled in September that Witt's sexual orientation had not negatively impacted her unit's morale or cohesion as the military had argued.
On Tuesday, the Obama administration appealed the ruling but did not seek a stay of the judge's order reinstating Witt to her unit.
“I am thrilled to be able to serve in the Air Force again,” Witt said in a statement. “The men and women in the unit are like family members to me, and I've been waiting a long time to rejoin them. Thousands of men and women who are gay and lesbian honorably serve this country in our military. Many people forget that the U.S. military is the most diverse in the world – we are extremely versed in adaptation.”
“Wounded personnel have never asked me about my sexual orientation,” she added. “They were just glad to see me.”
Witt was expelled from the military for “homosexual conduct” after her commanders learned she was involved in a lesbian relationship.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 28 November 2010 12:54 |
