Judge orders military to halt ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ discharges

A federal judge in California ordered the Obama administration to halt discharges of openly gay and lesbian members of the military under the controversial “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. 

Judge Virginia Phillips of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California rejected the administration’s request that she hold off enforcing an earlier ruling that declared the controversial policy unconstitutional so that it could be fully litigated.

The government has up to 60 days to appeal the ruling, but is under no obligation to do so, according to The Associated Press.

The administration has sought to do away with the policy, but has faced criticism from gay-rights groups for the slower pace it’s pursued toward the policy. The Congress tried to advance measures that would end the policy following a military review, but the Senate was unable to advance that repeal after all Republicans and some Democrats objected to the legislation.

President Obama himself has been confronted by gay-rights activists during fundraisers this fall, and just this week, two activists claimed they were denied entry to a fundraiser where Obama spoke.

The California decision could threaten to inject the controversial social issue into several key congressional races, with just three weeks until the Nov. 2 elections. In particular, California plays host to two top-tier races for Senate and governor.