U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips has ordered the Department of Defense to immediately suspend enforcement of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Phillips's order includes:

(1) DECLARES that the act known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" infringes
the fundamental rights of United States servicemembers and prospective
servicemembers and violates (a) the substantive due process rights
guaranteed under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and
(b) the rights to freedom of speech and to petition the Government for redress
of grievances guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States
Constitution.

(2) PERMANENTLY ENJOINS Defendants United States of America
and the Secretary of Defense, their agents, servants, officers, employees,...

The White House has just released a statement saying it believes the Senate will act on DADT repeal legislation when it returns from midterm recess. The announcement attempts to take the burden of removing the enshrined discrimination off the shoulders of the Obama Administration.

Reads the full statement:

“The President has repeatedly said he wants a lasting and durable solution to DADT, and he continues to believe that the Senate should follow the bipartisan action in the House to repeal the statute. The White House continues to work with the Congressional leadership on a host of issues that need to be addressed when they come back into session, including passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. We are not commenting...

Possessing a recurring knack for approaching topics too soon, Funny or DIE tackles Don't Ask, Don't Tell in a star-studded comedy smorgasbord of gay jokes that verge on tired stereotyping in its latest video. Still, with the likes of Sarah Silverman and openly-gay TV host Dave Holmes appearing in G.A.Y.S. (Guys Against You Serving), it's chock-full of acronyms, half-full of laughs and a shot or two full of a great message: DADT is ridiculous.

(Follow the jump to view the video)

If you were curious for a deeper explanation of frigid Ann Coulter's anti-equality talking points that GOProud spent lots of homo-dollars to hear over the weekend, you're in tuck (apologies for the cheap Coulter pun); the ice queen herself appeared on Larry King Live last night to regurgitate her same insensitive "you're not black and therefore don't deserve civil rights" mantra. Later in the interview, King presses her about DADT, which of course she supports with straight-jacket-worthy anti-gay/anti-feminism rhetoric.

Hopefully you're not allergic as this windbag brings the full amount of nuttery to the interview...

Last night's "The Word" segment on The Colbert Report tackled Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and host Stephen Colbert's trademark satire was rampant, genius and ultimately enlightening. Colbert's biggest point? Being forced to lead a double life for years has given gay soldiers the perfect training for top-secret military missions.

(Follow the jump to view the hilarious segment)

Able to draw out of President Obama what plenty of interviewers or podium stands haven't in the past few years, Rolling Stone got the president to open up a bit more candidly about his commitment to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

"I've been here two years, guys. And one of the things that I just try to remember is that if we have accomplished 70 percent of what we committed to in the campaign, historic legislation, and we've got 30 percent of it undone — well, that's what the next two years is for, or maybe the next six. Understandably, everybody has a great sense of urgency about these issues. But one of the things that I constantly want to counsel my friends is to keep the long view in mind. On social issues, something like 'don't...

Updated Monday, September 27, 12:45 p.m. EST

We were one of the first to tell you about Margaret Witt's historic court ruling on Friday, and the incomparable Rachel Maddow was the first to score Witt's inaugural national television interview late Friday night. Watch below as the eloquent Witt talks about the ruling and how she can't wait to return to her unit. So moving!

Margaret Witt, a former Air Force flight nurse expelled from the military after revealing she is a lesbian, was just ordered reinstated by a federal judge!  

The American Civil Liberties Union, representing Major Witt in contesting her dismissal, has said that if returned to service, she would be the first person to lawfully serve openly in the U.S. ...

While in New York to address the U.N. and for a fundraiser, President Obama was protested by groups accusing him of slashing HIV/AIDS program funding and not doing enough to get a DADT repeal through the Senate. Many times during prepared remarks the president went off script to speak to the protestors.

You may have seen John McCain's temper tantrum interview with reporters post yesterday's failure on a DADT repeal, where Mr. Filibuster adamantly denied that the military actively seeks out information to out soldiers. Because, you know, it's not the policy...

The freshman senator from Minnesota spoke candidly and emotionally -- even fighting back tears at one point -- after yesterday's DADT debacle in the Senate.

As expected, Lady Gaga has released a brief statement expressing her disappointment over yesterday’s DADT filibuster in the Senate.

"Today was an enormous disappointment, for myself, and for many young American people. Not only because don't ask don't tell was not repealed by our senators, but moreover because legislative procedure is being abused to stop public business, public debates, from happening while America is watching. There was a debate today, we just didn't get to watch it. Instead, it has been customary now for antiquated procedures and partisan politics to take precedence over debate, America's needs, and today, sadly, over the needs of U.S. troops. I will keep fighting, I will not give up. I am passionate about the...

Updated Tuesday, September 21 at 11 a.m PST

Senator Collins is speaking on the floor now, and she now sounds like she DOES support a repeal. Watch it on C-SPAN here.

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Roughly an hour ahead of the scheduled Senate vote on DADT repeal by way of the Defense Authorization bill, most on the Hill are expecting things not to go our way.

Two reasons:

1.) Maine Senator Susan Collins, a key democrat vote and one half of the reason for yesterday's Portland rally with Lady Gaga, announced moments ago that she plans to vote against repeal, landing those in favor of ending discrimination just shy of the 60 votes needed to move legislation forward in the face of John McCain's expected filibuster.

2.) At the start of today's debate, Gen. James Amos,...