“A reprehensible decision.” That’s a conservative Wisconsin activist’s reaction to a judge’s order to end “don’t ask, don’t tell.” It’s yet another example of judicial activism, a judge with an agenda pandering to a group seeking special treatment, according to Julaine Appling, President of Wisconsin Family Action. “It is flying in the face of work that is being done in the Congress as well as in the military,” Appling said. “To try to implement an injunction of this nature over the will of elected officials is absolutely a bad idea.”
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips on Tuesday ordered an immediate end to the policy which bans military service by those who are openly gay. Appling notes President Barack Obama wants an end to the policy, but Congress failed to act this summer. Appling doubts the White House will appeal the ruling. FAIR Wisconsin, an advocacy group for the LGBT community, did not respond to a request for comment.