Air Force colleagues of discharged lesbian testify in Tacoma she should not have been fired

Airmen: Lesbian should not have been discharged

TACOMA, Wash. — A staff sergeant in the Air Force Reserve says a lesbian flight nurse discharged from her unit in Washington state under the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy would be welcomed back if she wins reinstatement.

Staff Sgt. Stacey Julian is the latest of several former colleagues of Maj. Margaret Witt testifying in federal court in Tacoma.

Witt argues that her firing failed to further military goals.

Julian told the judge Tuesday that Witt was an excellent nurse who held a respected job — she was in charge of making sure the unit followed proper protocols.

Lawyers for the Air Force suggested in cross-examination that the witnesses don’t really know how all 150 people in the unit feel about gays serving openly.