Feb. 25, 2007 — Air Force Staff Sgt. David Hall was a decorated officer, had been given a much-coveted opportunity to train be a pilot, and in 2002 had earned the highest ranking of all the Air Force ROTC juniors in his detachment. Hall to this day is eager to fly missions in Iraq.
But Hall won't be sent to the Middle East any time soon, because in August 2002 the Air Force discharged him because he's gay.
"To have that taken away from me — it was devastating," Hall told ABC News today.
Hall is one of more than 11,000 gay and lesbian service members discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy enacted in 1993. On March 7, the 1st Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals will hear the court case that Hall and 11 other gay and lesbian service members have filed — working with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network — against the Pentagon seeking reinstatement.
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Politics/story?id=2902934&page=1
But Hall won't be sent to the Middle East any time soon, because in August 2002 the Air Force discharged him because he's gay.
"To have that taken away from me — it was devastating," Hall told ABC News today.
Hall is one of more than 11,000 gay and lesbian service members discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy enacted in 1993. On March 7, the 1st Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals will hear the court case that Hall and 11 other gay and lesbian service members have filed — working with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network — against the Pentagon seeking reinstatement.
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Politics/story?id=2902934&page=1