Gay Rights Advocate Lt. Choi Allowed Back To Unit!!
Gay military rights advocate Lt. Dan Choi, who was under fire over the summer and not allowed to perform drills with his unit for not adhering to the RIDICULOUS "don't ask, don't tell" policy, is back with his unit.
Choi was scheduled to appear at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change Conference over the weekend but was personally called by his commander, who has been highly supportive of the Arabic translator and West Point graduate during his hearing, and asked him to rejoin drill duty and has been warmly welcomed back!!
Choi says:
"Initially, I sensed a feeling of territorialism. They were like, 'That's right, he came back to us!' The paperwork has been floating around in the Pentagon very slowly. Usually people wait six or seven days for their discharge. Meanwhile I'm waiting for months to hear back. It felt good to just put away a lot of the past year. Obviously there were soldiers following everything I was doing, or there were others who didn't have a clue."
What an inspiration!! Hopefully the government will realize soon what MORONIC policy "don't ask, don't tell" is and men like Choi can go back and being able to serve their country in peace!
[Image via AP Images.]
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Okay, good.
Now, how many milliseconds before he gets booked to appear on Anderson Cooper's A.C. 360?
Just sayin'.
Okay now call me whatever you want BUT I have to say this… while I'm all for gay marriage I am also very supportive of don't ask don't tell… my husband is in the military and while Lt. Choi seems to be very focused and combat ready I really don't want Lance Bass or you in charge of watching my hubby's back out in combat… sorry but that's how I feel… I know it sounds fuc*ed up and I'll get a lot of backlash but it's the truth… a strong masculine gay man in the military is fine but an eyebrow tweezing, eyeliner wearing cross dresser is just not ok… they might mean well but I just can't imagine Clay Aiken holding his own with an M-16 in Afghanistan… sorry but don't ask don't tell should stay in place and that is that!!!
It's too bad he had to even go through this bullshit.
Could this be the beginning of America finally coming to its senses ?!?
Unfortunately, no.
Don't ask don't tell should only apply to you..
Re: ness4263 – With your logic, they should also still exclude black people from the military, or at least keep them in separate units. Geez.
How can your country be the beacon of moral authority in the world when it can't even guarantee equal rights for its own citizens ?!?
What a patriotic American and a class act, especially in the face of republican bigots who would deny him rights because he is born gay.
ive met him before at a no on prop 8 rally. very amazing guy and very sweet. just trying to fight for his rights. thanks for highlighting his story.
There is no solid answer to any of this but MY question is this: Women don't want men showering with them for obvious reasons (Does anyone out there believe these camps, outposts and bunkers have individual showers? Maybe next to the sauna perhaps?). Men MIGHT want women showering with THEM and that would also be for obvious reasons but that's straying off subject. So here bringeth the question: If a woman is discomforted by a man showering with them, wouldn't a MAN be discomforted by a gay man showering with THEM?
Is this REALLY that hard to understand? I mean…really??
Funny how most of us passionate about being rid of "Don't ask. Don't tell." have never been shot at, lifted a weapon or spent so much as a single minute in the military. I, for one, never have but have great respect for those willing to pick up a weapon and die for my rights. VERY unfortunate that most of us who flock to this site could really give a shit less.
"ShoeWhore" asks us "Could this be the beginning of America finally coming to its senses?!?" to which I would reply, "No ShoeWhore, America began losing its senses a long time ago."
Now lets all go find ourselves a Jihadist terrorist hell-bent on severing the skull from any man, woman or child's body so long as they are a "Westerner" and give them the hug they need that will help them see the errors in their ways.
You first…
I completely agree with you Perez! The "don't ask, don't tell" policy is ridiculous. Why does it matter if a solider is homosexual or not? He is fighting for his country and that should be all that matters. I think most of the soliders who are in the military that are straight are just homophobic and probably think that if there is a gay solider among them, he'll try to butt rape them all. It's so stupid.
Re: ness4263 – I hope your husband is not the idiot and bigot that you are, this is why stupid fcks like you should be somewhat educated before you speak. You know they let women in the military too. and gay women face discrimination. You are so ignorant I don't know where to start or on second thought people like you are beyond help. Just collect your military government check from gay american tax payers and stfu.
Re: ShoeWhore – Wow. The first line of this response to a military wife has to be the most moronic and truly, TRULY inept statement I have ever heard. I am both stunned by the sheer stupidity of this comment and simultaneously grateful this came from a Canadian.
And as far as "moral authority" goes: Dear planet earth, our great country is more concerned with Freedom of Speech and one's right to do anything they please than "morals". Please do not follow us down the morality toilet. Our Founding Fathers had a great idea that became a great country that future generations decided to crap on.
We can change. We can ALL change.
Re: Indrid Cold – Sounds like if the men are not groped they will have to deal with it. Sorry we don't support discrimination because some bigots are uncomforttable. You really are a disgusting pig who is very comfortable with treating other americans in such a cruel way,shame on you scumbag.
Re: Indrid Cold –
Did you just seriously compare GAY RIGHTS, to a terriost? You say that most of us commenting on this don't care about what soldiers are doing for us Americans everyday, but we do. They are fighting for us, and so are gay soldiers. And you seem to think that Amercia is losing its senses. Why do you think that? Is it because America is finally starting to accept homosexuals and not treat them as outcasts?
way to be a f**king racist you fat fuck. "hero?" really? you bitch about not receiving equal treatments yet you make fun of people who are different.
welp if he gets taken prisoner he can always suck the terrorists dicks in an attempt to let him go
Re: knowitall – Throwing the word "discrimination" around sounds like it must come very easy to you (as it does most people like yourself).
I never have and never will support discrimination nor have I ever acted in a discriminatory manner. As I stated in an earlier comment "there is no easy answer" but based on your responses and commentary, actual READING might be difficult for you. (Not discriminating. Simply stating a fact based on your commentaries.)
I'm a "a disgusting pig who is very comfortable with treating other americans in such a cruel way" why again?
I'm having tremendous difficulty following ANYTHING you are attempting to say.
He is not a hero lol. I hate when people throw that word around like its nothing people do it all the time now a days. Secondly fuck getting rid of the don't ask don't tell policy that's the one thing we have that will keep us from being drafted if the draft comes back!
Re: Asian Invasion – At least YOU asked rather than attacked based on assumption. No. I didn't compare Gay rights to a terrorist. The childish terrorist comment I made came from my frustration with totally unrealistic Liberal thinking that we can all just "Have a nice day" and "Hug it out". How I wish that were true.
Most of us here DON'T care about the soldiers. We want to "bring the troops home" without having the slightest clue as to what that would mean but like saying it cause it's popular. (Obama promised "Change" and bringing the troops home. Why did he just send 30,000 more out? Hmmm.)
And as far as America losing its senses…I don't even know where to begin and, if I did, it would be an all night dissertation. But no, I absolutely do not think America is losing its senses because of homosexuals. (I would name drop two close friends of mine that happen to be gay but you would just think I was making it up.) Homosexuals deserve the same rights heterosexuals do. I'm sickened by the idiot's out there that are homophobic, racist, etc. and even more sickened by the scum that "act" on those pathetic fears.
This "Don't ask. Don't tell." argument is far more complex than Perez has taken the thirty seconds he did to blog it.
good for him! i can't believe the military are willing to throw out such good officiers, especially Arabic translators when we need them so badly just b/c it comes out after years and years of dedicated service that they are gay.
if they managed to serve with honor for years and their being gay never caused any problems (like they never sexually harassed anyone or tried something ridiculous like get some in the group shower) but were just quietly gay and served the country commendably then why is it so horrrible for them to say "hey, i'm gay…and guess what? it never negatively effected my job performance!"
destroy don't ask, don't tell! it's one of the dumbest policies ever!
Re: knowitall – So with your logic, then a woman not wanting to shower with a man is sexism so they should have a say either?
Re: knowitall – You're not really saying anything I didn't expect so get your panties out of a twist and relax!!! Like I said before I support gay marriage and equal rights however this is the one thing where I have to step back and go to the other side… I just don't believe this is a good idea!!! Also if the "government check" you were referring to were a welfare check your attempt at an insult might have worked however it miserably failed so… sorry!!!
Don't ask, don't tell and the repealing will come at a huge tax increase passed on to us. Don't believe me? Follow me here: Because of the need as Ingrid mentioned to keep sexually attracted people from showering together, separate barracks will have to be built. If you've never been in the military or seen it, the barracks have not only communal toilets but showers. If they choose not to separate them from the others, then money will be spent to put up privacy showers. Given how many thousands of shower rooms there are, this ranges beyond billions. Now you have the issue of bunkmates. At enlistment level and through E-3, you sleep on average, 4 to a room. That means enlarging barracks as well. THEN, you have the men who will use this as changing their contract when they entered and therefore the contract is null and they no longer have to serve. Stopping it would cost billions AND lost soldiers that take an average of $100k to train. Phasing it in is a better plan if necessary. I'm for gays serving, however, I'm not about to be thrilled that billions more in a depression would have to go to serve the minority of a population. Phase it in would ease money resources, allow for proper classes and education AND allow everyone a fair shot.
Re: ness4263 – ur really dumb you equate famous gay celebrities to all gay people there are alot of masculine gay men trust me i slept with a lot of them
Ok so I'm Part of one of the best military service in the world the United State Air Force and like any other Airman, Sailor or Marine I'm proud to serve with the man and woman that wear the uniform regardless of their color, religion or sexual orientation because at the end we all are protecting the greatest constitution of the United State. However i think the "don't ask don't tell" should stay where it is because it will hurt all of people. Some of my friends are gay and the are happy being who they and they don't get treated any different from everyone else,but now they feel that because of what's going on they are seen differently then before. To be honest the only ones complaining about this are the ones who got kick out because their behavior was unacceptable and believe me you have to do something really stupid to get discharged. At the end people really don't know what's happens inside the military world and I am freaking tier the people keeps bringing it up lets worry about when out troops are coming back, my friends and people i respect so much are still there defending our country and our rights so that way people like Perez complains about how bad gay people are treat it!!!
Re: ness4263 – I know many heterosexual men who is not that masculine. Should he not be allowed in the military? What about woman? Your reasoning is disgusting even if you support gay marriage.
Also, why is everyone bringing up the showers. Not every gay man is attracted to every man. Seriously.. i am in a gym surrounded by good looking men and i mind my own business and change.
Yea but he sure has some bad skin
Re: PrinceD – I used them as examples to make the point I was trying to make… I know not all gay men are the same… I have several gay men in my family and they split up about evenly as far as masculine and feminine and it's the same thing with them too… the masculine ones are tough, rough and would do fine in the military but the girlie ones wouldn't stand a chance and that's what I'm trying to say… take it as you will!!!
Re: imsoregistered – Why are heterosexual men so insecure to be around gay men naked? who the fuck cares? Believe me, i am sure no one is looking at your junk
Re: imsoregistered – Very insightful. Too bad the "ShoeWhore"s and "Knowitall"s of this post have absolutely no idea what you are saying. They read a subject heading and maybe a few lines of article then spout ignorant rage based on what they deem to be popular philosophies without any consideration of the unfortunate realities of the real world. (Not trying to sound intellectual. Just don't know how else to put it.) Even the simplest of speech and smallest of words falls on deaf ears around here.
Re: WPBFlagrl27 – You are absolutely correct that you have to do something pretty out there to be discharged under DADT too. Men in my husband's office are gay and quite frankly, no one gives a damn in the general sense, but I do know of one man who brought his boyfriend back and making out in public and did get discharged. Though I have seen some odd discipline for certain ranks having PDA's too. It's not like men and women don't know it's happening and it's there. The sad part is, the ones screaming loudest are the ones with no knowledge of the military. My husband is Air Force too. My first husband was Army infantry. No one is telling gays they cannot serve, but the screamers don't realize as well, it's for their protection as well. Whether we like it or not, other countries we are fighting would specifically seek us out, seek certain units, certain people and the horrors of what could happen to a gay man in those other countries - I shudder to think…
Re: AlexPoland – Whether you want to admit it to show bias or not, not ALL men keep their eyes on their own paper. *ahem* You assume it silly of someone to say that all men are not peepers, you are just as silly to assume that because YOU don't look, doesn't mean there are not others who cannot help themselves or won't. Not every single man or woman is perfect in the military. I mean, hell look at what happened in Texas. Do you want either a gay against straight or straight against gay tirade to happen all in the name of "equality"? The military has BARELY gotten down religious tolerance to begin with. The circle of stones at the Air Force Academy had a cross left in it. Everyone has a religion or non-religion and they are working on tolerance. Not everyone is gay and you want them to surpass all the other areas that need improvement that benefits EVERYONE to appease what - quite frankly - is a minority?
Re: imsoregistered – What the fuck are you talking about? Are you a moron? Other countries will seek us out? They aren't going to be wearing bright pink camaflouge uniforms with dolce and gabbana belts. More harm has been done with DADT - heterosexual women have been forced to have sex with male officers or else they would tell people she was "gay" thus getting her kicked out.
They don't need separate god damn showers. Yes I don't want men showering with me, but I wouldn't be bothered if lesbians showered with me. But maybe I'm not as much of a diva as our soldiers? I fucking hope not.
if we're in the U.S. military, aren't we all on the same team anyway? do we need to say more?
Sorry to disappoint the hardliners, but gays and straight people are showering together has we speak. There is always going to be bullying and violence in the army that is unfortunately the nature of the beast. The reasons for bullying could be for anything!
I think gay service people will be ideal for the army, has they are not allowed to be married they may have less to lose while fighting, so therefore may be more fearless in combat than their married with children counterparts. Also anybody who is willing to join the army, aware of the adversity they may have to face shows somebody who has strong mental character. So I am unconvinced of this gays are 'too soft to fight' argument. Plus if you were of a more camp disposition I doubt you would have the willpower to prise yourself from fashion week long enough to go running around in Afghanistan without the adequate facial creams.
The financial thing is a poor argument too because in Europe servicemen are allowed to be openly gay and this has not led to the demise of the army. It costs more to recruit and train people in lieu of the gay members lost anyways. The LGBT struggle is one that is going to have a lot of stumbling blocks, but I think it is unfair to state because something is to difficult it shouldn't be attempted.
IT TOOK TO LONG TO GET HERE!
Shame on the U.S for being so backward to adopt a barbaric practice of DISCRIMINATION….and all you pieces of dirt in support of Don't as Don't tell are not even a step up above those who adopted segregation laws. Gay citizens of America will NO LONGER be told we're second class. Not now not ever again.
I salute Lt. Choi for his bravery amidst prejudice.
Some of you all need to educate yourselves outside of the frozen food section of Walmart. There are trials, and hearings and interigations much like a witchhunt toward gay servicemen fighting for OUR freedoms to be on this blog venting about them and bashing who they inherently are…in a time when recruitment is at an all time low! No wonder people think of Americans as ignorant backward hillbillies. Every powerhouse military in the world not only allows gays but welcomes them!…In Isreal, UK and Argentina they have a liason department strictly for attracting gay recruits and actually go to gay social gatherings in the city to get more in the gay community to sign up and serve. Every sargent and higher up in the dozen countries in the world who enable gays to serve ALL came out and spoke about the benefits of it in articles they wrote last year FOR the U.S encouraging us to adopt the same open arms for every capable and willing member of our country. Anyone who can think it's ok for one person to have nudie pictures of female porn stars on their locker while another person faces trial and discharge for having a picture of their (same sex) partner of 10 years…well, I'd advise you to get off celeb blog sites as it's chipped away at your soul.
Excellent! Good for him, he has been through alot and I hope the military treat him better now with the respect he deserves! And also are entitled to their own opinions, but to say a hypothetical commander is not fit to look after his charges because of his sexuality is moronic! He should be judged according to his conducted behaviour, attitude as well as how he looks after his team. If he is not fit to lead or look after his team, judge him according to his actions, not his sexual preferences, especially if he chooses to keep that part of his life private…this is only an hypothetical example, but it pisses me off that people can get uptight that people cannot supposedly do their job because of their sexuality………..absolute bullshit
Re: WPBFlagrl27 – You have NO gay friends..so stop right there hun. I know PLENTY of gay servicemen who were discharged for absolutely nothing they did and even recieved accolades before but because of BIGOTS like you outting them due to envy and lack of brain power. ALL it takes to be discharged is for one ignorant tool (like you) having a spiteful scorn and telling a higher up "so and so is gay"…when the gay person is automatically questioned about it (like a criminial) in a private room where they can either lie about who they are (talk about irony in serving your country) or be discharged. Thats EXACTLY how it goes everytime…I know because I've done over 10 years of research on this topic. 99.9999% of the time it is not brought on by the gay person but some homophobe from Arkansas or in your case, Florida who finds out someone in their unit is gay, can't handle it and put an anonymous tip in. Yes, thats EXACTLY as it goes. I consider myself an authority on this topic and have interviewed 48 people serving and not a single one of them felt comfortable with don't ask don't tell, nearly 40 of them expressing to me at one point or another they did ask themselves why they were fighting for the rights of an entity that didnt enable their personal right. EQUALITY NOW!
Re: ShoeWhore – When did "our country" become the beacon of morality? America is populated by diverse groups with diverse beliefs and agendas. There's something bad wrong if foreigners can't look to their own country for morality instead of imposing on us an image that isn't ours to begin with.
.
Re: G0 Ask Alice – Yeah. My thoughts exactly.
The funny thing about it is, much like the anti gay marriage bigots who voted down Prop H8, the topic of gay marriage and gays serving in the military and equal rights gets far more exposure and limelight the more pompous bigots vote it down. Bigots logic by voting these basic rights down is "OK- now the gay thing will go away" but if anything gay marriage, adoption and gays in the military is getting FARRRR more talked about than ever before …much to OUR communities benefit. By virtue of demanduing people live according to your ideals, you're making an activist out of them and birthing a movement that could be avoided if people mind their own business in their own household and live and let live. Before, The 35 million bisexual, gay and lesbian members of this country were not that galvanized as a community until the past few years when they realized their inherent rights were not being granted…then came the whistles, horns, signs and screams from a more unified community than ever before. We have bigoted hetros to thank for that, THANK YOU…thank you for uniting a community that would have otherwise just minded their own business and went on with their lives just as you do, but then your then you said you wanted to make an issue of our sexualities…and now we're showing you an issue alright. Thanks again.
Re: imsoregistered – Oh man, you make it too easy….showers? SHOWERS and peeping toms (wheres your proof of these incidents? citation and article links please) is your justification on a monumental and polarized issue like this? Just proof your ilk is running out of arguments and it boils down to homophobia. Having had plenty of family/friends and neighbors and having interviewed even many more…the last thing on someones mind at war is if they are being checked out or to check someone else out…wait wtf..I can't even believe I'm giving a rebuttal to a sugar cane who's pillar of argument in this debate is EYE CONTACT!!!!! Do you have a learning disability? How old are you little one?
and p.s- of course someone who has been deployed for a long while in anguish and despair will MAKE OUT WITH THEIR LOVED ONE WHEN REUNITED you walking turd. So it does boil down to your discomfort of "gayness" and if thats your sides back bone and argument…well, DADT will be repealed quicker than I thought.
GAYS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE MILITARY. THEYD ALL BE TRYING TO MOLEST YOU AND SNIFF YOUR UNDERWEAR. THEN, IN THE TRENCHES, INSTEAD OF SHOOTING THE ENEMY THED BE THINKING OF CORNHOLING THEM
His ass will get fragged. And it will be from "friendly fire". You know how it is in combat. Sometimes you just can't get there in time……..
The "don't ask, don't tell" isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Get on with your life, Perez.
Re: ness4263 – Fine let your spouse get blown to bits and when you ask why, we'll all just say, "Don't as don't tell."
Re: Baron von Fleck – How mighty classy of you to try and make a joke out of the death of a soldier … you're an even bigger piece of shit than you believe me to be… especially with the recent massacre at Fort Hood still affecting our community more than you will ever know… you truly are an idiot!!!
Re: Wawawiwa – You are comparing military's a tenth our size to what will work? Or countries that don't even have majority split barracks? See, that's the PROBLEM - you think you deserve not to give your OWN burden of proof and demand that others do to justify their stance, when you have absolutely ZERO clue on how it works, and how the world in general works. I'm glad you support heterophobia, but don't you DARE talk down to me like you know what's going on in the military when I've had a deployed husband TWICE and my father is in Afghanistan right now. You have proven with your simplistic and demanding statements, MY point. That some gays are "in your face", "I deserve to be right", and "YOU prove me wrong" sentiments that holds gays back today.
Re: Wawawiwa – You spent "10 years" researching this and came across 40 people? WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? You think there are only 40 gays and therefore ALL gays have been discharged? I seriously hope this isn't the bane of your research because it's flawed. Anyone with half a brain would see through a sample of DISCHARGED soldiers interviewed that they cannot prove their stories, but didn't seek out ANY gay people who are serving without hiding, but without pushing it around. There are MANY gay people in the military - a few loud objectors who have proven that they tried to change the military for THEM after signing the contract rather than those who do even attend functions with their "friend". I have ZERO discomfort with GAYNESS - that's EXACTLY the problem with your arguments, instead of reading comprehension like my thoughts on phasing in - you want it NOW NOW NOW and will throw out falsities, "facts" according to you then claim that anyone that doesn't agree with you MUST be against gays.
Re: ness4263 – You know until you let gay soldiers sever without the fear of being outed and thrown out i won't support this military and could give two shits if your husband dies or not.
Re: knowitall – you do nothing for my family so your opinion means shit to me which is why it surprises me how much mine means to you since you're acting like I just let me dog shit on your lawn!!! see the thing is that most people who want don't ask don't tell turned over and are throwing a shit fit about it are people who don't even care to join the military and every single gay soldier I know who is already in doesn't want it turned over either… why you ask??? Because there are homophobic people everywhere and they like to keep their private lives private… they come out only to their friends and are perfectly fine because they're a tight knit group… if don't ask don't tell is gone they're afraid of being outed against their will by other openly gay soldiers (you know the way perez often likes to do to people) and will then be seen as "the fa**ot soldier" by everyone else vs. just a soldier by everyone else and being lovingly called a "fruitloop" by those close to him… but whatever… i'm done here… say all you want… I've said my part now feel free to say yours… just don't take it so personal… it's just my opinion and that's all it'll ever be… i pray for all of you wishing harm to my husband because you need it more than he does!!!