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A US judge has declared a nationwide halt to enforcement of the country's ban on openly gay military personnel.
In California, US District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled the "don't ask, don't tell" policy unconstitutional.
Last month the ban was also ruled unconstitutional by a federal court in Washington state.
President Barack Obama and some military leaders have called for it to be overturned. A legislative attempt to do so failed in the Senate last month.
Under the policy, established in 1993 under former President Bill Clinton, the US military is forbidden to inquire about service members' sexual orientation, but can expel people discovered to be homosexual.
The lawsuit was brought by the Log Cabin Republicans, a pro-gay Republican group, on behalf of openly gay military personnel who had been discharged under the policy.
Overturning the ban, Judge Phillips cited Mr Obama's contention that it weakened national security by forcing qualified military personnel to "live a lie" or have their careers compromised.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
A US judge has declared a nationwide halt to enforcement of the country's ban on openly gay military personnel.
In California, US District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled the "don't ask, don't tell" policy unconstitutional.
Last month the ban was also ruled unconstitutional by a federal court in Washington state.
President Barack Obama and some military leaders have called for it to be overturned. A legislative attempt to do so failed in the Senate last month.
Under the policy, established in 1993 under former President Bill Clinton, the US military is forbidden to inquire about service members' sexual orientation, but can expel people discovered to be homosexual.
The lawsuit was brought by the Log Cabin Republicans, a pro-gay Republican group, on behalf of openly gay military personnel who had been discharged under the policy.
Overturning the ban, Judge Phillips cited Mr Obama's contention that it weakened national security by forcing qualified military personnel to "live a lie" or have their careers compromised.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.