On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected a
challenge to the military's ban on open gay service, the AP reported.
In granting a request by the Obama
administration, the court said it would not hear an appeal by former
Army Captain James Pietrangelo II, who lost his job under the
Pentagon policy – often called “don't ask, don't tell” – that
prescribes discharge for military members who do not remain celibate
or closeted.
The court appeared satisfied with the
decision reached by a federal appeals court in Boston that dismissed
the suit filed by Pietrangelo and 11 other veterans.
The Obama administration argued that
the appeals court ruled correctly in deciding that the Pentagon's
policy is “rationally related to the government's legitimate
interest in military discipline and cohesion.”
Pietrangelo appealed the ruling to the
Supreme Court, asking it to decide on the policy's constitutionality.
“Don't ask, don't tell” has become
an increasingly distracting issue for the president as gay activists
continue to call out the president for going back on his campaign
pledge to end the ban.
The Pentagon and the White House have
offered conflicting statements on the current state of discussions on
the issue of repeal. Meanwhile, the Pentagon continues to enforce
“don't ask, don't tell” and gay men and lesbians continue to lose
their jobs.