Lt. Dan Choi, the Army National Guardsman and Arabic translator who openly challenged the military's failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy after coming out on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, has been recommended for discharge.
The Federal Recognition Board's findings were despite the fact "every witness on both sides" testified the West Point graduate and decorated Iraqi combat officer was an asset to his unit. Choi vows to take his fight all the way to the Secretary of Defense and the the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
Choi's dismissal comes on the same day Defense Secretary Robert Gates claims the Pentagon hopes to make DADT investigations more "humane." WHEN YOU JUMP, watch MSNBC's report on Choi's dismissal. Also watch the Rachel Maddow segment where this West Point graduate came out and risked his military career. Lt, Dan Choi, another highly decorated and "humane" casualty of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
I am so hopeful that we can overturn this by 2012. It has 70 percent approval even among Repubs it is high. Why the delay on all sides? Is it the Pentagon brass?
Posted by: Billy Frazier | 01 July 2009 at 03:11
This is 2009 and the debate goes on, Gays have been in the military since time began.
Posted by: DW Jazzlover | 01 July 2009 at 07:45
Why it is an Asian solider comes out and fight? Where are Black gay soilders?
Posted by: Vincent | 01 July 2009 at 08:03
Vincent,
Don't forget about PERRY WATKINS who served as an out man and was honored by his fellow soldiers.
This is BOGUS. It's DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL but it should be DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL, DON'T INVESTIGATE because no one is just walking up and saying HEY BY THE WAY, I AM GAY. They are investigating and digging into people's lives and that isn't the letter of that law.
WE won't ask and you don't tell...but they are digging every step of the way and now realizing, publicly, that its costing us a WAR. This is the SECOND soldier who happened to be gay AND an expert in Arabic languages that is gone from the military. So an enemy to America is speaking a language that these 2 men can decode BUT because they are Gay, the entirety of America is jeopardized...AND THAT MAKES SENSE HOW?!?!?!
But with DAN CHOI and ANTHONY WOODS--have you not read anything about ANTHONY WOODS, Vincent? Please google his name--African-American West Point graduate, Harvard educated, discharged and told he had to repay governemnt for his education--its powerful to me that the fight against DADT has changed colors indeed!
Thanks for keeping us up on these fights for EQUALITY in every way!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 01 July 2009 at 08:16
Don't forget about ANTHONY WOODS who is BLACK, GAY, WEST POINT GRAD, BRONZE MEDAL WINNER and KICKED OUT FOR DON'T ASK DON'T TELL/
AND RUNNING FOR CONGRESS!!!
And my cousin too, who was drummed out of the Air Force by a vindictive ex girl friend. I was very lucky that didn't happen to me.
Posted by: Chris Cruz | 01 July 2009 at 09:06
Oh and Vincent: Racist much?
Posted by: Chris Cruz | 01 July 2009 at 09:08
Asian Americans are also not represented enough either, Vincent. Even being mosly middle class, they to suffer from horrible racial stereotypes and lack of respect in many degrees. Must it always be Black/Latino/Other POC that take a stand on issues like this. Hell, it would be great to see some gay Arabs and Native Americans too? You know they exist. They're the smallest of minorities, but they're here in the USA.
I swear, people always look at LGBT issues as a White/Black issue and its very annoying.
Posted by: Kevin Perez | 01 July 2009 at 11:49
Kevin,
I agree wholeheartedly, which is why I said the FIGHT FOR EQUALITY IS CHANGING COLORS INDEED.
Its about the TRUTH of the rainbow standing up and stepping out that will change this fight. As long as the fight was white, people looked at it as White men, already privileged, "whining" (forgive the use of the word, but it begs the poitn) for more rights. When that struggle include Middle Eastern Men and Jamaican Lesbians and Latino Gay families and Asian soldiers and Black Harvard grads and Biracial and Multi-racial husbands and wives, the Village of Us will stand up and unite and walk, proudly, into Freedom well-fought and well-earned!
BRAVO, Rod, for the new piece on Anthony Woods. I truly pray that this gentleman is able to win and to further broker the conversation and convergence of race and equality for all!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 01 July 2009 at 13:21
This is how we win--humanize our issues with effective spokespeople who have compelling stories, who can articulate them well.
Posted by: Andy Niable | 01 July 2009 at 14:46
Thank you, RevKev, for mentioning the name of the hero Perry Watkins (1949–1996).
As far as these videos are concerned, they are quite compelling, but unfortunately the bigots who inhabit our land will never see them. Either the bigots will hear nothing at all on the matter, or they will listen to our very own American guardians of righteousness, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, on Fox News.
Posted by: Jim | 02 July 2009 at 00:40