Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, who has been fighting for the right to stay in the Air Force for two years following a false rape accusation, told CNN this morning that yesterday’s ruling prohibiting the government from enforcing its Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy still leaves him in the same position: waiting.
Fehrenbach told Kyra Phillips, “I’ve been in limbo, you know, essentially for 29 months now. And I’ve been serving openly for 17 months so I’m sort of used to the limbo status. Right now, just like other discharges ongoing, as we understand it, [my discharge] is currently suspended.”
Fehrenbach added, “I think my case will remain in limbo. I have ten months left until I’m eligible for retirement.”
He told Phillips that, despite the problems he experienced in the wake of being outed, he would still recommend gay men (or, presumably women) to join the military — but with caution: “[If] you love your country and want to serve, I would encourage anyone to do that but contact the Servicemembers Legal Defense hotline because they’re the experts and advise people on what to do and need to ask go in with the understanding this is the law. ”
Watch the video below:
