Dan Choi Hospitalized

from Pam's House Blend:

NOTE FROM PAM: Today brought news to our inbox that Autumn and I wanted to share with Blend readers in what we feel is an appropriate context. We learned that Dan Choi, who sacrificed his privacy to take on a high-profile role as one of the public faces of the impact of the discriminatory policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, has been hospitalized and is in the hands of professional mental health practitioners at a Veterans Administration facility. Dan explained in his email:

"I did not initially want to publicize this but I now realize it is critical for our community to know several things: veterans gay or straight carry human burdens, Activists share similar burdens, no activist should be portrayed as super human, and the failures of government and national lobbying carry consequences far beyond the careers and reputations of corporate leaders, elected officials, High powered lobbyists, or political elites. They ruin lives. My breakdown was a result of a cumulative array of stressors but there is no doubt that the composite betrayals felt on Thursday, by elected leaders and gay organizations as well as many who have exploited my name for their marketing purposes have added to the result. I am certain my experience is not an isolated incident within the gay veteran community.

At the same time, those who have been closest to me know that I truly appreciate their gracious help and mentorship. I am indebted to their hospitality and leadership.

If you could share the info and sentiment I'd be most grateful."

So yes, this is newsworthy, and Dan clearly wanted to share what he could have left private, or had to deal with had information about this leaked out. But this is another gift to the community -- to open up a multi-faceted discussion: 1) the mental health toll taken by gay and lesbian service members; 2) the stressors that arise when also thrown into the public eye as a matter of fate or circumstance, not as a job.
As a society we tend to bury mental health issues, always trying to pretend that everyone can just "suck it up" and bear all of life's maelstrom, and that there is inherent weakness in needing mental health services. Far from it, there are many people in desperate need of professional help in this vein who don't seek assistance because of the stigma still attached to mental health issues. A snippet of what I said in my response to Dan:

"...Now you have a chance to actually rest, get off of the hamster wheel and take care of yourself. Sometimes this is what it takes for those who find it hard to ratchet down. Part of gaining perspective is to take care of your mental health as Dan Choi the person, the human being. "Activist" is an acquired label, worn by you in a very public manner - it's a difficult burden.

This is private time to both heal and build up the skills you need to handle the anxiety that can be crippling and painful. That's a process, one that takes time, practice...I trust that you will cast the outside world out of your mind for a while. It will obviously be there when you're ready to engage, and the world will be just as screwed up as it ever was.

What matters is that you gain back your strength. Your health - mental, physical, spiritual - is more important than any of this."

And the closet is no place for mental illness, there is no need for euphemisms that skirt the issue of addressing a clinical matter. Doing so only makes it that much harder for those who suffer in silence from getting the help they need, and in the military, the stigma remains strong.

I Didn't Say It........

David Hyde Pierce, on coming out as a happily partnered man:

"It was very important to me never to pretend, never to hide. In 1985, my partner Brian and I were new in the business and were not comfortable letting people know that we were gay. We had separate apartments. We went about our business. We met this lovely married couple down in the grocery store below the apartment building where we all stayed. A month later, we finally had the courage to come out and let them know that in fact we were a couple. They said, 'We knew when we saw you shopping.'" 

Just further proof, as if we needed it, that coming out really is all right.

And that it does get better.
David Hyde Pierce and his partner, Brian Hargrove, have been together for over twenty-five years, but only recently were allowed to marry in that slim window of equality in California before Prop H8.

Tina Fey, accepting the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize--this bit was edited out of the program by PBS because, they say, the show simply ran long:

"And, you know, politics aside, the success of Sarah Palin and women like her is good for all women - except, of course --those who will end up, you know, like, paying for their own rape 'kit 'n' stuff.' But for everybody else, it's a win-win. Unless you're a gay woman who wants to marry your partner of 20 years - whatever. But for most women, the success of conservative women is good for all of us. Unless you believe in evolution. You know - actually, I take it back. The whole thing's a disaster." 

Funny, she didn't say anything that wasn't true, and yet her remarks were clipped from the show.

Funny, she was being honored for her work as a comedian, yet her jokes were edited out.
Funny, I expected more from PBS.

David Hyde Pierce [again], on finally marrying his longtime partner:

"It wasn't so much about being uncomfortable being gay, it was about being uncomfortable … Like the bully on the playground was pushing your face in the dirt saying, 'Say it, say it, say it. "[Getting married], I felt transformed … We'd been together 26 years when we were legally allowed to get married in California. We went and did it, and we both agree it had a power, an importance to us in our lives that we can't really put into words, but that is totally palpable and intrinsic to who we are."

This is an argument I've had with my anti-marriage equality, um, for lack of a better word, friends.

They get why they married, and what it means to them, as a couple, as a union, but they don't get why I might want the same thing.


Dan Choi, on the idea that President Obama suffers from silent homophobia:

"We have served our country valiantly, the defense of freedom and justice, now it is time for our leaders to do the same. After visiting Senator Harry Reid today, the majority leader, his staff telling us that the president is not engaged, at all, in the repeal of the most discriminatory law that bars soldiers from telling the truth. After all his rhetoric I think we must conclude that there is truth to the knowledge in homophobia of both sorts. There is a loud homophobia, those with platforms. And there is a silent homophobia of those who purport to be our friends and do nothing. Loud homophobia and silent homophobia have the same result, they must be combated and this is what we intend to do today."

I feel, as I've said before, some ring of truth in what Choi says. Obama has done a lot for the LGBT community, with all his LGBT appointments and so on, but he is remarkably silent, at least until someone else speaks out, on issues important to our community.

It took him a while to talk about Pride celebrations, and only did so after Hillary Clinton spoke up; the same with the It Gets Better project; he was silent until Hillary spoke up.

Do I think, as Choi also said, that Obama is the worst president in regards to LGBT issues? Not by a long shot. I do, however, wish he'd speak up more, and become that fierce advocate he promised.

Meryl Streep, on Cher:

"We hung out and drank plum wine--eww--after work. Cher was really fun. I was smitten by her openness, both as an actress and as a person. It's incredibly disarming--you're a little worried for her, like: Are you sure you want to be telling me all this? Her lack of inhibition is part of what endeared her to the national audience on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour--that's where I first saw her. Most people on TV had a little TV veneer back then, a performing gloss, but her gloss was not only her beauty but how easily she wore it and dismissed it, like 'No big deal!' For a showgirl there's not a phony bone in her body."

Oh man, how I would have loved to sit with these two, drinking plum wine and talking.
Oh man......

Cher, on Meryl Streep:

"She's so good, and she makes me laugh hysterically. We are opposites: she takes everything so easily, and I am so stressed about everything....I think Meryl is doing it [aging] great. The stupid bitch is doing it better than all of us. But I don't like it. It's getting in my way. I have a job to do, and it's making my job harder."

Such polar opposites, in, seemingly, every way, and yet they've remained friends since appearing in Silkwood.

Just that fact makes me love them both more.

Max Adler, who plays Glee bully Dave Karovsky who gave Kurt Hummel his first kiss:

"I just got the script like any other script. I had no clue what was going on...I saw Ryan at the premiere, and he said, 'We just wrote some really good stuff for you for episode six,' and I was like, 'Oh, cool. Some more slushies?'...And then I got the script, and I was reading that scene, and Kurt, he just doesn't let up. He keeps on me and he keeps on me, and I thought, 'I'm going to punch him in the face. This is getting serious.' And then I turn the page, and it says: 'Karovsky kisses Kurt.' And I was like, 'What?' I jumped off the couch. I was as shocked as anybody else was. It was totally unexpected. [But] yeah, first time I've kissed a guy, and I'm glad it was Chris Colfer!"

Imagine getting that script, and seeing that you go from bully to closeted homosexual.

I hope they play his story out a bit more as the season moves on. I've always said that the biggest homophobes are closeted homosexuals.

Congressman John Shimkus, on global warming and how "god" will protect us:

"I believe that's the infallible word of God, and that's the way it's going to be for his creation. The Earth will end only when God declares it's time to be over. Man will not destroy this Earth. This Earth will not be destroyed by a Flood. I do believe that God's word is infallible, unchanging, perfect." 

But, wingnut, is there are earthquakes and floods and tornadoes and hurricanes, and all sorts of natural disasters, wouldn't global warming fall into that same category?

Natural?

And, maybe god won't destroy the Earth, but even a wingnut such as yourself, could see how mankind is destroying the planet. 

Pat Sajak, on Keith Olbermann:

"I was the person who introduced Keith Olbermann to America ... I'm not sure how he morphed into the bitter-sounding, hate-mongering name-caller he's become, but I'm sorry he did. I do know that to whatever extent the political well has been poisoned, Keith has dumped more than his share of venom into the water. I'd like to think he knows that and maybe even regret it. I liked the Keith Olbermann of 1989." 

Oh Pat, keep selling vowels.

You cannot take responsibility for someone else. You are not that powerful, even though you seem to think quite highly of yourself.

And, interesting, that while you take, um, credit, for unleashing Olbermann, the show on which he appeared with you was cancelled in about ten minutes after it first appeared.
You think far too highly of yourself.
I'd like to solve the puzzle: Shut The F_ _k Up.

Keith Olbermann, on Pat Sajak's criticism:

"Pat Sajak did not introduce me to America. I started on CNN the same year he started on 'Wheel.' I think if he needs to apologize for anything it needs to be that talk show. When he was canceled, he was replaced by a crime-and-skin series called 'Silk Stalkings,' for God's sake." 

Pat Sajak Is A F_ _ ktard, Keith.
He just proves it time and again.

As Americans, We Should ALL Be Ashamed

As of yesterday Lieutenant Dan Choi was officially released from the United States military for being gay.

Such a proud, proud day, America.

Now he joins the ranks of the other 14,000-plus LGBT American men and women who served their country, fought for their country, and protected their country, being unceremoniously discharged because of their sexual orientation.

Proud proud day.

Choi’s National Guard unit has notified him via mail and phone that he had been fully discharged and is no longer able to serve his country as an American solider.

According to Gay City News:

Choi lost his battle with the Pentagon on June 29 when his discharge from the Army under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was finalized. While Choi’s National Guard unit informed him by registered mail and with phone messages, he has not disclosed the action. He did not respond to an email seeking comment.

A proud proud day for all of America, all Americans, and for President Obama who PROMISED to end DADT upon his election, and still promises to do so to this day.

I Didn't Say It

Lt. Dan Choi, on handcuffing himself [again] to the White House fence:

“We are handcuffing ourselves to the White House gates once again to demand that President Obama show leadership on repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ If the President were serious about keeping his promise to repeal this year, he would put the repeal language in his Defense Authorization budget. The President gave us an order at the Human Rights Campaign dinner to keep pressure on him and we will continue to return to the White House, in larger numbers, until the President keeps his promise to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ this year.”

Clay Yarborough, Florida City Commissioner, on why gays, Muslims, and atheists should not be allowed to hold public office:
"I would say that when I read Romans Chapter 1, I see striking resemblances between where Rome was just prior to its fall in comparison to where America is today. There are striking similarities in what we allow in our societies. Rome did not fall from an outside attack, whether it was military or otherwise. It fell from within because it was morally bankrupt. And I believe we have been treading in that area for a while and the more that we do not embrace that which honors the Lord, we shouldn’t be surprised if the blessings do not continue on our land."

Neil Patrick Harris, on Rupert Everett's assertion that openly gay actors are not successful:
“With all due respect to Rupert, you can blame a lack of advancement in your career on all kinds of things, for a myriad of reasons, so I don’t think he can specifically pinpoint one reason why something might be stalling for him. But I was proud to know that he was who he was.”

Grace Jones on Lady Gaga:

"I really don't think of her at all. I go about my business. I wouldn't go to see her. Yes, she did [ask me to record with her], but I said no. I'd just prefer to work with someone who is more original and someone who is not copying me, actually."

Lt. Dan Choi, promising more actions against the Obama administration:

"Last week's hospital visitation directive is a welcome, but small step. Long gone are the days when will we accept crumbs and politely smile as if we were served the entire meal. We are tired of waiting. We are tired of seeing our money and our support go to politicians who promise us everything yet give us only small token gestures in return. We will continue confronting our elected officials, including President Obama, with direct action demanding that they fulfill their campaign promises to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act."

Leonard Nimoy, on retiring:

"Countless times, I thought it was done. I've been doing this professionally for 60 years. I love the idea of going out on a positive note. I've had a great, great time. I want to get off the stage."

Reverend Dallas Henry, on why God hates us for electing Barack Obama president:
"On 9/11 terrorists turned planes into missiles. The next day the late Dr. Jerry Falwell said, 'We’d better realize that God is removing His protective hand from this nation.' And then he specifically cited our national sins of abortion and homosexuality. The liberal press absolutely crucified him. We rarely see such a vicious attack as he endured. But he was right. And God is now using our current administration to give us what we have been asking for. It's change, and we are finding out it is not change we can believe in."

John McHugh Stands with Dan Choi

All sorts of folks were in an uproar last month when Dan Choi chained himself to the White House fence--and was subsequently arrested--to protest Don't Ask, Don't. I, however, understood his frustration, and the idea that, when you spend years asking politely for something, and are told that it's being taken care, but a year goes by and you ask again and receive the same response and then you elect a man who says one of the first things he'll do is scrap that whole anti-gay discriminatory policy, and then it gets pushed back again, well, I understand the What The Fuck attitude.

A similar, and no less bold, What The Fuck attitude is being offered up by the secretary of the Army, John McHugh, who said yesterday that he was effectively ignoring DADT because he had no intention of pursuing discharges of active-duty service members who have publicly come out.

It's a figurative chaining of oneself to the fence.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced revised standards about DADT discharges last week, saying he would make it harder for the military to discharge service members whose sexual orientation is revealed by third parties. That's a small step, but it wasn't enough for John McHugh, who said it made no sense to pursue discharges of service members as he speaks with them about the change in policy.

People said that Dan Choi may have ruined his chances of being reinstated in the military with his protest and arrest, but sometimes, you get so tired of being told No that you have to do something drastic. And John McHugh is doing the same by blatantly ignoring the law.

Two heroes; two different methods; hopefully the same result.

The end of DADT.

I Didn't Say It

Sinead O'Connor, on the Pope and the epidemic of Catholic clergy sexual abuse scandals:
"There should be a full criminal investigation of the Catholic hierarchy of any country in which this has been an issue. There should be a full criminal investigation of the Vatican. There should be a full criminal investigation of the pope. The pope should stand down for the fact that he did not act in a Christian fashion to protect children, and for the fact that his organization acted to preserve their business interests decade after decade rather than be concerned about the interests of children, and for showing so much disrespect for Christ, God, the victims, the rest of us, their own clergy. . . . The Vatican and the pope need to get on their knees and confess the full truth in the same language they make us use in Mass. . . . They need to get on their knees, open everything up, be transparent, tell the truth, ask the people for forgiveness and prayers."

James Cameron on Glenn Beck:
"Glenn Beck is a fucking asshole. I've met him. He called me the anti-Christ and not about 'Avatar.' He hadn't even seen 'Avatar' yet. I don't know if he has seen it...I think, you know what, he may or may not be an asshole, but he certainly is dangerous, and I'd love to have a dialogue with him...He's dangerous because his ideas are poisonous. I couldn't believe when he was on CNN. I thought, what happened to CNN? Who is this guy? Who is this madman? And then of course he wound up on Fox News, which is where he belongs, I guess...[The right wing are] just people ranting away, lost in their little bubbles of reality, steeped in their own hatred, their own fear and hatred. That's where it all comes from. Let's just call it out. Let's have a public discussion. That's what movies are supposed to do, you know, you can have a mindless entertainment film that doesn't affect anybody. I wasn't interested in that...Anybody that is a global-warming denier at this point in time has got their head so deeply up their ass I'm not sure they could hear me."

Barney Frank on the anti-gay slurs used by Teabaggers during the health care debate:
"There was a great deal of shouting, you know, waving of fists and signs, and sort of people getting very close and yelling. And a number of the comments were homophobic.... What occurs to me is, there are kids all over the country watching this, not as a game but as real life. And watching so-called respectable politicians cheering them on. And that was just discouraging, that at this point in our history, we couldn't have a rational debate with these kind of thug tactics that were being used.''

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin on DADT and ENDA:
"Certainly there are members of Congress who are nervous because of the economy, the rate of joblessness. Across the country, people are agitated. On the other hand, my constituents want to see bolder and quicker change, and so I actually see positive signs to follow through [on DADT and ENDA]."






Carmen Electra, on her breast implants:
"I had breast surgery over 10 years ago…which took a bit of time to get used to. I didn't want to go as big as that. It's nice that I don't have to wear a push-up bra any more, but I could have left myself alone."









Magician James Randi, known as 'The Amazing Randi', coming out of the closet:
"Well, here goes. I really resent the term, but I use it because it’s recognized and accepted. I’m gay. From some seventy years of personal experience, I can tell you that there’s not much “gay” about being homosexual. For the first twenty years of my life, I had to live in the shadows, in a culture that was--at least outwardly--totally hostile to any hint of that variation of life-style....Gradually, the general attitude that I’d perceived around me began to change, and presently I find that there has emerged a distinctly healthy acceptance of different social styles of living--except, of course, in cultures that live in constant and abject fear of divine retribution for infractions found in the various Holy Books...In another two decades, I’m confident that young people will find themselves in a vastly improved atmosphere of acceptance....I'm in excellent company: Barney Frank, Oscar Wilde, Stephen Fry, Ellen DeGeneres, Rachel Maddow, are just a few of those who were in my thoughts as I pressed the key that placed this on Swift and before the whole world…"


Drag Queen Joan Collins on real men in Hollywood:
"There's a big difference between the male stars of bygone years and today's slightly metrosexual-looking actors. Johnny Depp, Leonardo Di Caprio and Sean Penn are all wonderful actors, but they are chameleon-like when it comes to their place on the masculinity meter. As for today's TV stars, to me they seem just like ordinary, faceless men cut from the same male cookie-cutter. I don't recognise most of them, and in any case their star doesn't burn brightly for very long on TV nowadays. Viewers are fickle and shows are cast off the networks faster than old bait."

Former Australian High Court Justice, and out gay man, Michael Kirby, from a book of essays about justice issues:
"Openness about sexuality helps to destroy the foundation for prejudice and discrimination. One day there will be a big parliamentary apology to gay people for the oppression that was forced on them and the inequalities that were maintained in the law well beyond their use-by date. Just like the delayed 2008 apology to the Aboriginal people of our country.
"I also do not doubt that, in a comparatively short time, Australia will move towards same-sex civil unions and gay marriage. No one has satisfactorily explained how my 40-year loving relationship with my partner Johan in any way affects (still less undermines) heterosexual marriage. If Australians are now more homophobic than racist, as some recent public opinion polls suggest, this is because Australians have lacked good leadership on this issue."

Lt. Dan Choi on his arrest for chaining himself to a White House fence:
"There was no freer moment than being in that prison. It was freeing for me, and I thought of all of the other people that were still trapped - that were still handcuffed and fettered in their hearts. And we might have been caged up physically, but the message was very clear to all of the people who think that equality can be purchased with a donation, or with a cocktail party, or with tokens, that are serving in a public role. We are worth more than tokens. We have absolute value. And when the person who is oppressed by his own country wants to find out how to get that dignity back - being chained up and being arrested - that's how you get your dignity conferred back upon you. And so I think that by actions, my call is to every leader - not just talking gay leaders - I'm talking any leader who believes in America, and the promises of America can be manifest. We're gonna do it again. And we're going to keep doing it until the promises are manifest. And we will not stop. This is a very clear message to President Obama and any other leader who supposes to talk for the American promise and the American people. We will not go away."

Huffington Post blogger and military veteran Rob Smith, on Dan Choi's protest:
"Dan Choi will always be that rock star activist that handcuffed himself to the gates of The White House. Of course Dan Choi jumped the shark, and he did it in his military uniform for all the cameras to see. You know what, though? I think what we needed was to see something like this to light a fire under each and every one of us that cares as deeply as he does about Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal, and about full equality in general. This movement needs him as much as it needs me, or Jarrod Chlapowski, or Lt. Col Victor Fehrenbach, or any of the other gay veterans who share our past of silent service knowing that it reflects the present of thousands of gay soldiers currently serving. Maybe it's time to act up all over again. Maybe the rumblings of this being a part of a more coordinated activist effort are true. Maybe it is time to Get Equal."People keep wondering who's going to be the Martin Luther King of the gay rights movement, and that I still don't know, but I think yesterday's actions may have put us one step closer to finding our Malcolm X."

Gillibrand Makes A Move Against DADT

The president may not be doing anything, or much of anything, about it, but New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is leading the fight. She is considering bringing the battle over Don't Ask, Don't Tell to the Senate this week, by introducing an amendment that would put an 18-month moratorium on the discharge of gays serving in the military.

It would be the first time since the implementation of DADT that senators will be forced to declare their position on the gay ban. If Gillibrand's amendment passes, many gay-rights leaders expect it would also pass in the House and then be signed by President Obama.

While there already is a bill introduced in the House, by Congressman Patrick Murphy, to repeal DADT, Gillibrand's move would circumvent a long legislative process at a time when an average of two gay soldiers per day are being discharged.

The Human Rights Campaign and the Service Members Legal Defense Network, which advocate for gay and lesbian members of the military, were involved in pushing the amendment, and just this past week leaders from both groups shopped the idea around to various Senate offices, hoping to find the best possible sponsor.

"We went and explored this idea with several senators who were interested in doing something with DADT," says Kevin Nix, communications director for Service Members Legal Defense Network. "Gillibrand is one of those senators we've talking to about doing this."

Senator Gillibrand has been an outspoken opponent of the policy and has vowed to repeal the ban. Facing a contested primary next year, Gillibrand is trying to gain support from New York's gay community. Gillibrand has also been an outspoken supporter of Lt. Dan Choi, an Arab linguist who lost his job because of the policy. Choi, who served for 15 months in Iraq, has helped make the ban on gays a front-and-center issue. Dan Choi is the 266th service member to be kicked out since Obama took office.

Two-hundred-sixty-six too many.

This Must Stop. Now.

Lt. Daniel Choi is an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic. He is also a gay man. Choi is being discharged from the military simply because he's gay. I cannot think of many things more disheartening than denying anyone, male or female, the chance to serve their country as they choose, because of their sexual orientation. We're supposed to be better than that; we should be better than that.

Lt. Daniel Choi has written an open letter to President Obama and the Congress. It was printed on CNN.com.

This is his letter:

Open Letter to President Obama and Every Member of Congress:

I have learned many lessons in the ten years since I first raised my right hand at the United States Military Academy at West Point and committed to fighting for my country. The lessons of courage, integrity, honesty and selfless service are some of the most important.
At West Point, I recited the Cadet Prayer every Sunday. It taught us to “choose the harder right over the easier wrong” and to “never be content with a half truth when the whole can be won.” The Cadet Honor Code demanded truthfulness and honesty. It imposed a zero-tolerance policy against deception, or hiding behind comfort.
Following the Honor Code never bowed to comfortable timing or popularity. Honor and integrity are 24-hour values. That is why I refuse to lie about my identity.
I have personally served for a decade under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: an immoral law and policy that forces American soldiers to deceive and lie about their sexual orientation. Worse, it forces others to tolerate deception and lying. These values are completely opposed to anything I learned at West Point. Deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force.
As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates. I demand honesty and courage from my soldiers. They should demand the same from me.
I am committed to applying the leadership lessons I learned at West Point. With 60 other LGBT West Point graduates, I helped form our organization, Knights Out, to fight for the repeal of this discriminatory law and educate cadets and soldiers after the repeal occurs. When I receive emails from deployed soldiers and veterans who feel isolated, alone, and even suicidal because the torment of rejection and discrimination, I remember my leadership training: soldiers cannot feel alone, especially in combat. Leaders must reach out. They can never diminish the fighting spirit of a soldier by tolerating discrimination and isolation. Leaders respect the honor of service. Respecting each soldier’s service is my personal promise.
The Department of the Army sent a letter discharging me on April 23rd. I will not lie to you; the letter is a slap in the face. It is a slap in the face to me. It is a slap in the face to my soldiers, peers and leaders who have demonstrated that an infantry unit can be professional enough to accept diversity, to accept capable leaders, to accept skilled soldiers.
My subordinates know I’m gay. They don’t care. They are professional.
Further, they are respectable infantrymen who work as a team. Many told me that they respect me even more because I trusted them enough to let them know the truth. Trust is the foundation of unit cohesion.
After I publicly announced that I am gay, I reported for training and led rifle marksmanship. I ordered hundreds of soldiers to fire live rounds and qualify on their weapons. I qualified on my own weapon. I showered after training and slept in an open bay with 40 other infantrymen. I cannot understand the claim that I “negatively affected good order and discipline in the New York Army National Guard.” I refuse to accept this statement as true.
As an infantry officer, I am not accustomed to begging. But I beg you today: Do not fire me. Do not fire me because my soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force – we are a family and we support each other. We should not learn that honesty and courage leads to punishment and insult. Their professionalism should not be rewarded with losing their leader. I understand if you must fire me, but please do not discredit and insult my soldiers for their professionalism.
When I was commissioned I was told that I serve at the pleasure of the President. I hope I have not displeased anyone by my honesty. I love my job. I want to deploy and continue to serve with the unit I respect and admire. I want to continue to serve our country because of everything it stands for.
Please do not wait to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Please do not fire me.
Very Respectfully,
Daniel W. Choi

1LT, IN

New York Army National Guard

Knights Out Of The Closet

Thirty-eight graduates of the US Military Academy at West Point came out of the closet recently, offering to help their alma mater educate future Army leaders on the need to accept and honor the sacrifices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops.

In other words, to end "separate but equal" treatment of gays in the military.

The organization they formed, Knights Out, wants to serve as a connection between gay troops and Army administrators, particularly at West Point, providing an “open forum” for communication between gay West Point graduates and their fellow alumni, and to serve as advisors for West Point leaders in the eventuality—which the group believes is both “imminent and inevitable”—that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is repealed by Congress.

“We're publicly announcing our sexuality, our orientation,” said 1st Lt. Dan Choi, a National Guardsman with the 1st Battalion., 69th Infantry. “It’s just one part of who we are in saying that we are standing to be counted.”

And they deserve to be counted; as do we all.

The formation of Knights Out follows the lead of the US Naval Academy, which has a gay support group called USNA Out, and the US Air Force Academy's Blue Alliance. Most of these groups’ members also belong to the Service Academy Gay and Lesbian Alumni social network, a group that Knights Out claims includes some active-duty commanders serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Choi, a West Point graduate and combat veteran of Iraq, said his unit is aware that he’s gay, and added, “I’m very comfortable with all the repercussions right now. To me, it’s about doing the right thing, not about trying to fit into the process that gets you the rank or prevents you from getting a discharge....If that’s the repercussion, I’m ready to take it....I think it’s more important that I let everybody know that … it is a wrong policy.”

Groups such as the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network--which says that more than 12,500 men and women have been discharged under DADT since its implementation in 1994--actively lobby for the repeal of DADT, saying the policy is discriminatory and robs the military of critical skills. On the other hand, the Center for Military Readiness just as actively lobbies to keep the policy intact, arguing that a reversal “would impose new, unneeded burdens of sexual tension” on the military.

Sexual tension? Is there no heterosexual tension? Or is it that gays in the military are too sexual, because, you know, that's all we do.

Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., recently introduced legislation in Congress that would repeal DADT, and the next day, White House Spokesman Tommy Vietor said the president had begun consulting with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen “so that this change is done in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and national security.”

Another Democrat, Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia, has asked for a monthly report on DADT discharges, including the eleven gay soldiers discharged by the Army in January. “At a time when our military’s readiness is strained to the breaking point from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the armed forces continue to discharge vital service members under the outdated, outmoded Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy,” Moran said. “Our allies have overcome this issue, facing no adverse consequences from lifting bans focused on soldiers’ sexual orientation...[and]...Polls show the American people overwhelmingly support repealing this policy....Yet how many more good soldiers are we willing to lose due to a bad policy that makes us less safe and secure?”

Exactly.