In an act of civil disobedience, demonstrators who handcuffed themselves to the fence at the White House shout their protests against the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy in Washington November 15, 2010. The Supreme Court on Friday denied a request to lift the Pentagon's ban that prevents openly gay men and women from serving in the US military, a decision that turns the focus on the issue to Congress when lawmakers return to work. [China Daily/Agencies]