Jenny L. Kopfstein, a decorated Navy officer from San Diego and Mike Almay, a former major in the Air Force, are both expected to testifying on Friday during a federal trial of a lawsuit filed by the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay rights organization.
The Log Cabin Republicans suit is the biggest constitutional challenge in recent years to the military's policy banning openly gay service members. The Log Cabin Republicans are seeking a federal injunction to halt the policy.
Mike Almay was dismissed in 2006 for being gay when a routine computer search turned up personal emails he wrote while deployed in Iraq and Jenny Kopfstein was discharged in 2002 after telling her commanding officer she was gay.
"Despite this treatment, my greatest desire is still to return to active duty as an officer and leader in the United States Air Force, protecting the freedoms of a nation that I love; freedoms that I myself was not allowed to enjoy while serving in the military," Almy wrote in a letter to President Obama asking him to overturn the policy.
The policy has put the Obama administrate in the awkward position of defending a policy the president is pushing Congress to repeal.
Government attorneys say the issue should be decided by Congress not in the federal courtroom in Riverside, Calif., according to the AP.
Over 13,500 service members have been fired under the "Don't ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy.
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