Lt. Dan Choi continues to impress as a spokesman for gays and lesbians, and especially those in uniform. It's been almost one year since the West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran came out The Rachel Maddow Show which led to him being discharged under "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell". Choi appeared last night on Maddow and discussed the new DADT discharge guidelines announced by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Says the lieutenant: "It was an attempt, as the Secretary Gates said, to make the implementation more humane. But I think it misses the point entirely. What's absolutely inhumane about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is that it enforces closetedness. And shame and lying and deception. And that is not keeping with any of the Army values or military values or American values. So it misses the point entirely."
On last week's civil disobedience at the White House: "The ball is in [the President's] court. The President needs to show some resolve and leadership. The repeal language can be included in the 2011 Defense Authorization Request. And anyone who opposes getting rid of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' would have to get 60 votes."
A number of influential congressmen and senators, such as Senate Armed Services Chairman and DADT repeal sponsor Joe Lieberman have also suggested the defense budget would be an easier vehicle. So far no comment from the White House.
Watch the interview WHEN YOU JUMP ...
I truly admire this man. He chooses to love himself and stand tall in spite of all the BS the Army has put out with the enforcement of DADT. He is what you a call a ROLE MODEL.
Posted by: MW09 | 26 March 2010 at 17:51