UPDATE: Air Force and Lt. Col. Reach Agreement to Prevent “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Discharge

The following is an excerpt from a story by The Associated Press via MSNBC.com:

“A military pilot reached an agreement Monday with the U.S. Air Force to prevent his discharge under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

“The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) said Lt. Col. Fehrenbach, a 19-year military member who has been decorated for his combat valor in Iraq, cannot be discharged until the Air Force brings the request to oust him from the military to a court hearing.

“‘The agreement recognizes the immediate harm to Lt. Col. Fehrenbach and insures that he will eventually get to make his case at a full blown hearing without losing his job,’ SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said in a statement.

“Fehrenbach, represented by SLDN, an advocacy group seeking equality for gay men and women serving in the military, filed a federal lawsuit in Idaho last week. They argued that the government cannot establish that Fehrenbach’s continued service on active duty hinders “morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion.”

Read the full The Associated Press story >>

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