Major Margaret Witt, a much-decorated Air Force officer from Washington state, attended the Presidential signing ceremony for the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Maj. Witt flew to Washington, DC today in preparation for the event set for Wednesday morning at the U.S. Interior Department.
Represented by the ACLU of Washington, Major Witt is challenging her dismissal from the Air Force under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In September, the U.S. District Court in Tacoma found that her sexual orientation had no negative impact on her unit’s cohesion and ordered that she be reinstated as soon as practicable. The government is appealing the ruling but did not seek to stay the reinstatement order.
“I’ve always had faith in our Commander-in-Chief that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ would be repealed. I wanted to be at the ceremony for all those who can’t be. And I’m more excited than ever to resume my duty of serving my country,” said Major Witt, from Washington, DC. “It’s a great day for all everyone who has come before, and those who are serving now and will serve in the future,” she added.
Maj. Witt hopes to rejoin the Air Force in early 2011. She will be the first openly gay service member to serve in the military by a court order from a lawsuit challenging “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
