Lt. Dan Choi Chains Himself To White House Fence In Protest Of DADT!!
What a hero!
During the Human Rights Campaign march this morning in Washington, DC, Lt. Dan Choi, who famously has been under fire from the US Army for serving his country out of the closet, announced that he was chaining himself to the White House to protest the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy!!
Choi, who appeared on stage while comedienne Kathy Griffin was there supporting the LGBT community, read this statement before heading to the White House:
“Hello. My name is Lt. Dan Choi. I am being discharged from the US Army because I am gay and dared to say it out loud.
Today, I am here on a mission with Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, and we are asking you all to join us. We’re calling you to action because we are at a turning point — a moment in time where talk is no longer enough, and action is required.
Equality is not going to happen by itself.
You have been told that the President has a plan. But Congressman Barney Frank confirmed to us this week that the President still is not fully committed to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year.
And if we don’t seize this moment it may not happen for a very long time.
Some may tell you that I am one of the lucky ones. I have been welcomed back by my unit with open arms. And it would be easy for me to stay quiet and hope that change will happen.
But what I was taught at West Point and learned in war is — hope is not a strategy. As officers, James and I both find it a dereliction of our moral duty to remain silent while thousands of our brothers and sister are not allowed to serve openly and honestly.
Capt. Pietrangelo was honorably discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2004 and I will be subject to the same shortly. As officers we are here today fighting for those in the ranks, and we need our Commander in Chief to do the same.
Our fight is not here at Freedom Plaza, it is at the White House. We are walking to the White House right now to send the President a message. So…take out your cell phones and your cameras. Document this moment. Join us as together — we make history.”
He then proceeded to march to the White House, and as we write this, is still chained to the fence with a crowd of supporters!!
As of now, only one woman, Robin McGehee, has been arrested for helping Capt. Pietrangelo handcuff himself to the fence on the grounds for 'disorderly conduct.'
Stand strong!! We are 100% behind you!!
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL!
[Image via Ty_DC.]
Tags: army, barney frank, capt jim pietrangelo, dont ask dont tell, freedom plaza, human rights campaign, lt. dan choi, robin mcgehee, us army, washington dc, west point, white house
Jesse James Was Texting Mistress This Week
Fox News' Bret Baier Interrupts The President
that is very brave for someone to do … my husband is in the Army and even though we have different views on the DADT policy , they should change it because someone that sacirfices themselve in combat should be able to say who they are .
Epic! This is so amazing to see an officer, in uniform, taking the fight for equal rights from the war in Iraq to our own civil rights in America.
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!!!
He's just been arrested and removed form the site.
You might have a chance here Mario!! he's chained to the fence!!hehaaaaa
Re: spartangirl03 – thanks. I agree.
THAT'S RIGHT…………………….
GOOD FOR HIM!!!
What a bunch of garbage!! Here is an officer- honorably serving and his unit still openly accepts him- no problems– and because of some stupid law he is getting removed from service. WOW. Not like we need soldiers or are in a war or anything either, right?
Ugh- I'm so sick of hater and bigots in this world!!! Why can't everyone get along and accept one another!!!
Proud of this guy!!! I support him all the way…
Equality NOW! I wish I had the balls this man has to STAND UP.
obama isn't following thru w/ what he "promised" to do?!?!?! amazing……..
Im so greatful to Lt. Dan Choi….Im in the army and recently returned home from a tour in Iraq. The time i was there I witnessed Obama ask for the gay vote. After getting the vote President Obama has done nothing…I get it we need healthcare reform but Im sorry in America I find human rights to be a little more important. President Obama has failed us so far and if a change doesn't occur in his support of equal rights for all. I encourage everyone not to vote for him in our next election. I am a GAY Soldier and Im so tired of being told that it is something wrong with who I am. Im Proud to be Gay and I hope to be able to say one day that im proud to serve this country.
LT DAN CHOI is a HERO!!!!
Thank God somebody is doing something. HRC, who only care about throwing banquets and getting celebs to attend was condemming all marches and rallies, and then suddenly when Kathy Griffin wants to film an episode of her show in DC, they put together a rally. Thank you Dan Choi for being real and not sticking to HRC's phony back of the bus script.
I'm so glad to hear they are doing this. As a member of the Courage Campaign, I have personally collected nearly 1500 signatures in support of Lt. Choi. This decorated man has served OUR country, bravely, under his own accord, and IMO epitomized what a true hero is. Go Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo; this issue needs addressed & equality should reign for those who are willing to defend OUR freedoms & the freedoms of others!!!
Why don't you all say you're gay and all come home!! End this war through civil disobedience-if they want to kick you out for who you are, fine, you're all gay then! We need to stop serving a system that fails us all in every term of equality. Peace for all!
I understand gay marriage. Marriage is about love, compassion, and picking your lifes partner. I understand gay proms. Spending an evening with the one you love. These things have everything to do with equality and HUMAN rights.
I don't understand the gay military thing. The military is not about equal rights or officers and enlisted would be equals. If this was about respect and love then they wouldn't bomb the hell out of other countries or kill people. Where do the human rights go when you need to kill them? Shouldn't we respect the rights of the enemy, too? Their right to live un-shot?
The military is about authoritarianism, discipline, and killing the enemy.
Can someone please explain this (no, I'm not being stupid).
He got arrested minutes ago.
Re: addykat –
You just said: Why can't everyone get along and accept one another!!!
My response is: how is being in the military during war time everyone getting along and accepting one another??
The military is about engaging and killing the enemy; the enemy being whomever the US government (not you and me) say it is.
How is that about equality????? How is that about anything good at all?
I agree on egual rights and all that. But I also believe in democracy and popular vote above that. Let the majority decide.
As far as the military, sorry, but once you enlist, your no longer a civilian.
Re: Rintendo – Despite your statement to the contrary, you are stupid. The military is what keeps your dumb ass safe and able to live, love and exist in the freedom you so casual flaunt. If it wasn't for my family, and the families of countless others out there defending your moronic ass, you wouldn't be able to even write or state the things you are now saying. You'd be dead right now for even questioning your government, being gay, or doing anything you currently take for granted. Despite your armchair observations of the military, their job is NOT to bomb and kill everyone, it is to defend our country, our lives and our freedoms. By all means, disband the military, and then see how long it takes for us all to be killed by the mass amounts of psychos in the world. Try to use half the brain our free country educated you with and make a more informed statement that our free country allows you to make.
You go boy! DADT needs to be lifted! If gays wanna serve and die for their country, let em'! Sorry my ass does not wanna be on the front lines!
Re: Unbelievable! – While I agree with you that the military is vital to our national survival, I think what he was referring to is that it does seem a contradiction to demand rights within the military, when much of what the military does is violate the human rights of others. That said, the world isn't perfect, and obviously having a military and killing in certain instances isn't avoidable. What I do think is important here, is that we as citizens take more responsibility for ensuring that these human rights violations of others are absolutely necessary for our national survival. Do I think that the war in Iraq is necessary for our national survival? Absofuckinglutely not. Also unfortunate, is that because the majority of those in the military are there because they have no better option in life, citizens don't really care what happens to these young men. These people say they "support our troops", but it generally means jack shit beyond putting a bumper sticker on your car. Wars don't affect the average citizen at all, we can live comfortably and ignore the issue. What might it take to motivate citizens to protest unjust or unnecessary wars? A draft? Maybe, because I'm confident that if every powerful person in washington's sons and daughters were at war and risking their lives, theyd make damn sure that that war was absolutely necessary.
And BTW, what exactly does announcing you're gay have to do with your military service? This gentleman, and the others he refers to are not being discharged for being gay, they are being discharged for breaking the law. I'm not saying the law is right, I don't believe it is. I don't think your sexual preference has anything to do with your ability to serve. Gays serve now, and do just as good a job as anyone else, so what difference does it make? The point everyone seems to be missing is that, currently DADT is still in effect, so his "coming out" is against the rules, thus he is being discharged. That's how it is, at least it is an honorable discharge. Just because a law or rule is unjust, does not give you the right to break it. I may not believe it is wrong to piss on a tree in public because it's what animals do all the time, but I can't be surprised if I get arrested for it. At the very least, he may be doing what he believes to be the right thing, but he knew what would happen if he did, so he can't really complain about that. Fight the good fight, and be proud of who you are, but let's not all get up in arms for the wrong reasons.
I love him. I want to marry him now. Omg.
Re: Unbelievable! –
I absolutely used to think like you, but the past ten years have shown me what despicable fucks run our government. I don't believe a goddamn thing any of them have to say about anything. There were no WMD. Colin Powell admits this. As for me and what I do, part of WHY my tune changed on the military is that I worked with PTSD patients, including a friend of mine that got back was shoved in Bethesda. I got to see where the red, white, and blue left off.
IF I believed that there was a truly righteous war–meaning we didn't do anything to start it, have anything to do with it policy-wise, etc…something like WWII, for example…I could see it. OR if someone invaded our shores, but…nope. Nope. I don't trust the government anymore and I think the military is the arm of an unjust government so call me stupid if you want, but I just don't believe that shit. Ron Paul said it best: use diplomacy. Use it before it becomes too late to use it. We never do that and as a result people like my sweetie are sent off to go shoot strangers because some assfucks in Washington say to do so. If I'm crazy or stupid for thinking thats crazy. So be it.
EQUALITY FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lt. Dan Choi your an inspiration!! Keep up the good fight!!!!
Re: megxoxox – That is terrible!
But , expected.
Re: Rintendo – While I can agree with most of what you said, I can see that you are mainly speaking out anger over your own loved one being sent off to fight. As I said, I have many family members in the military myself, and have just as much personally invested in it. Being that there is no draft anymore, your sweety must have joined the military of their own free will, like mine did. If your loved one did that thinking they were just going to get money for college, and never actually serve, then that was there own foolish decision. If, in fact, they joined because they believed in serving their country as mine, then you should be supporting them.
My statements about the military had nothing to do with trust in the government, or their agenda, or anything political at all. It was about the basic and fundamental function of it, to protect and serve our country. All governments have flaws, none are completely clean handed, and none could exactly be fully trusted. That is a given. However, it is still our home and better than many others out there. The military is made up of our people, our family our friends, not some "arm or tool of our government". You don't hate the players, hate the game if you must.
And, for all the flaws we all claim we can see, and all the things we "think" that we know about what goes on, I have to still believe there is much we don't know and aren't told that cause the actions our government takes in some situations. It's easy to play armchair quarterback when all we know we get from TV. I, for one, would never wish to be president. Try not to let your own anger cloud your judgement in general. Try to keep in mind that those strangers you sweety is "sent off to shoot" wouldn't hesitate to shoot you.
Re: Rintendo – One last comment in regards to your remark on diplomacy. People seem to like to color their memory to their own liking. Though I have my own feelings and reservations on the Iraq war, everyone seems to think we just ran in their overnight and started a war. They all seem to forget that we exercised diplomacy and sanctions and every other avenue for many many months, with Saddam thumbing his nose and defying the UN at every turn, before war was finally declared. 20/20 hindsight is a lovely thing. There turned out to be no weapons, so we were evil and shouldn't have attacked. If we didn't attack, and there turned out to be some, then we would have been blamed for not doing enough to defend our citizens. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Saddam defied the UN orders, that was an act of war, we did what we had to in the shadow of 9/11, we couldn't sit back and do nothing. You say you don't believe in our government, but you're quick to believe Colin Powell, who is an agent of the government and the military that you denounce, because he syas want you want to believe. I don't know the truth, I doubt any of us ever will because we aren't in a position to know. I don't believe everything I'm told, see or hear, but what I do and always will believe in is our country and it's ability to be something great if we all work toward that end. And I will always believe in my own loved ones who serve to keep me and my family safe.
Equal Rights For All. The dont ask dont tell law is discriminating!
Re: Rintendo – Dear Mister Rintendo, you might be right and you might be wrong. The US military might not be the right instrument to ask for equal rights because they kill people. However whatever the military may or may not be, firing somebody because he or she is gay is INSANE
HOW CAN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CALL ITSELF THE COUNTRY OF THE FREE WHEN GAYS ARE NOT FREE AT ALL?
The US should learn from the Netherlands when it comes to gay rights.
I love KAthy!
GreaT Blog Perez .. keep up this fight no matter what obsticles everyone has to go through we have to keep fighting for equal rights..
Re: Rintendo – well as us citizen we are all give rights aka bill of rights. So as gay men and women we should be able to use those rights and serve openly in the military. The enemy is not usually a US citizen so they are not afforded the same rights. As a gay soldier I just want to stop having soldiers kicked out of the military for being gay. This really not being able to say im gay or ask someone are you gay. This is about men and women who serve honorably being kicked out of the military because their gay.
DOD Instruction 1334.01 prevents the wearing of the uniform in demonstrations like this. This guy should be court-martialed for breaking the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Article 88: Contempt towards officials,
Article 90: Assaulting or willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer,
Article 117: Provoking speeches or gestures,
Article 125: Sodomy?
Article 133: Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman,
Article 134: General Article
When he gets in trouble he's going to cry about how the military court-martialed him because he was gay.
Re: loveliivelife – #12
So you're saying you're not proud now? If you feel you're being wronged then why don't you come out and take a stand like this Choi guy?
Re: cyatic910 – Well because im 21 and like most people i have dreams. Sorry Im not willing to lose everything i worked so hard to obtain. When a soldier is removed from the military he or she lose all benefits(the benefits that pay for my college). I've worked hard to get to where I am now and I wont let that be taken away from me just because I like guys. I've already made the ultimate sacrifice in the military, going to war, so I've earned all my benefits and I don't deserve to have them taken away from me because Im GAY. So basically when my contract in military is up I will be proud to stand side by side with Lt, Choi but until then I will do the best I can to help the cause i.e. explain to people like on this website that DADT is freaking wrong.
Re: loveliivelife – #39
So what you're saying is that right now you're willing to put up with the symbiotic relationship with the military while you're in. I know you knew the policy of DADT when you joined the military and regardless of that you still joined, so you kind of knew what you were getting into. You knew there was a possibility of someone finding out your secret. I think DADT should stay in place. And yes, I've been in the military for over 17 years and remember when they used to ask you if you were a homosexual. Look, I know there are going to be gay people in the military, I just don't think people have thought it thru very well. All people say is let them serve openly. People have not thought about the money and logistical nightmare that this is going to cause. I'm not saying you, but a lot of people here and on the internet always talk about being in the military and how they were welcomed back when their unit found out they were gay. You know as well as me that this would be illegal by military law and DOD Inst. My problem with Choi is that he's disrespected our military and the uniform by ignoring regulations. It's funny, he wants his right but fails to follow military regulations. Just look at my earlier post of UCMJ articles. The sodomy one, probably not, but the others definitely. That's why I just call him Choi. Why should I respect this man who disrespects the uniform and us. nuff said!
Re: Unbelievable! – #21
I completely agree. It's funny how you never hear about the military and humanitarian missions. When Katrina happened who was there, the US military, I was there. Where were all these other countries which allow gay people to serve openly? Mogadishu? Haiti, not now, I'm talking about our humanitarian mission back in the day. By the way, it's usually the Marines which are tasked with performing these missions. Isn't it ironic? Our most fierce branch of the service is also the most compassionate.
[re=4853035]Re: Ducky
Yay to these 2 men! About fucking time that this stupid shit is ended!' You can die for your country,but you can't love who you love,’cause we don't like it,it's icky and if you do it,you can't play in OUR war anymore.' UGH! Homophobes,bigots and bible thumpers need to give it up! This is the year 2010,way past time for equality for all. DADT is moronic at best. Repeal it already!
Re: addykat – #8- Touche!