Major Witt
Federal Judge Ronald Leighton entered an order stating that the U.S. Air Force had violated the constitutional rights of one of their own by honorably discharging her based upon their "dont ask, don't tell" policy.
Highly decorated Flight Nurse Margaret Witt was ousted by the Air Force higher ups when her sexual preference was outed by a colleague and her husband in 2004. Witt was in the midst of an affair with Laurie McChesney and the affair was found out by McChesneys husband who applied pressure to his then wife to end the affair and inform Air Force personnel. She did, and the hailstorm began for Witt. She was honorably discharged and she being the intelligent, driven woman she is, recognized she was wronged and subsequently sued.
Major Margaret Witt and her partner Laurie McChesney
Today Judge Leighton ruled that "she be fully reinstated as soon as practical, if that is what she wanted! He then stated to Witt "I hope that you will request reinstatement." Witt left the courtroom with her partner, McChesney who is now divorced, with a sense of relief and accomplishment. This case has touched many even as far as the U.S House of Representatives. The House cited the case in a letter to President Obama as an example of the damage that is happening to our military.
No comments:
Post a Comment