I have nothing but admiration for Lt. Dan Choi (pictured at left), a West Point graduate who served with distinction, but who has been forced from active duty to duty in the National Guard because - gasp - he's gay. Prior to the National Equality March I had the honor of speaking with Dan one on one for a half hour on the telephone and he is very inspiring guy. In my view, he is exactly the type of dedicated service member that the USA ought to treasure and seek to retain rather than recruit felons, those lacking a high school diploma, and other societal rejects in order to make recruiting requirements. Now, after leading a protest to the White House in an effort to get the attention of the do nothing Obama administration, Dan and other who have been wrongful reprimanded by the U. S. military for being honest about who they are, as well as many supporters took the issue of repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell to the literal gates of the White House in the hope of getting President Obama off his ass and taking actual, concrete steps to put DADT on the trash heap of history. Here are highlights from The Advocate:*
In an act of civil disobedience, Lt. Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo have been arrested at the White House gates on Thursday while protesting the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
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Following a Human Rights Campaign rally for DADT repeal in Washington earlier today, Choi and Pietrangelo led about 100 protesters to the White House, where the two then proceeded to handcuff themselves to the gates.
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Choi was speaking at the HRC rally at Freedom Plaza when he asked the group's executive director, Joe Solmonese, if he would also march to the White House. Pietrangelo was discharged from the military under DADT, while Choi's discharge is pending. Choi is the founder of Knights Out, a West Point alumni organization supporting LGBT soldiers.
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"You've been told that the White House has a plan," Choi told rally attendees. "But we learned this week that the president is still not fully committed. ... Following this rally, I will be leading [the protest] to the White House to say 'enough talk.' ... I am still standing, I am still fighting, I am still speaking out, and I am still gay."
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Gay rights activist Robin McGehee was also arrested after she had apparently helped the two discharged soldiers handcuff themselves to the fence. An officer who arrested McGehee said "I can't say anything" on why she was taken into custody.
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Personally, I believe that the days of quietly waiting like dutiful "house homos" for whatever scraps our religious oriented oppressors might deem to throw us are over. Ever day that gays suffer discrimination tracing back to religious based bigotry makes a mockery out of the principles supposedly enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Kudos to Dan and others who are willing to subject themselves to arrest in order to highlight this travesty.
In an act of civil disobedience, Lt. Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo have been arrested at the White House gates on Thursday while protesting the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
*
Following a Human Rights Campaign rally for DADT repeal in Washington earlier today, Choi and Pietrangelo led about 100 protesters to the White House, where the two then proceeded to handcuff themselves to the gates.
*
Choi was speaking at the HRC rally at Freedom Plaza when he asked the group's executive director, Joe Solmonese, if he would also march to the White House. Pietrangelo was discharged from the military under DADT, while Choi's discharge is pending. Choi is the founder of Knights Out, a West Point alumni organization supporting LGBT soldiers.
*
"You've been told that the White House has a plan," Choi told rally attendees. "But we learned this week that the president is still not fully committed. ... Following this rally, I will be leading [the protest] to the White House to say 'enough talk.' ... I am still standing, I am still fighting, I am still speaking out, and I am still gay."
*
Gay rights activist Robin McGehee was also arrested after she had apparently helped the two discharged soldiers handcuff themselves to the fence. An officer who arrested McGehee said "I can't say anything" on why she was taken into custody.
*
Personally, I believe that the days of quietly waiting like dutiful "house homos" for whatever scraps our religious oriented oppressors might deem to throw us are over. Ever day that gays suffer discrimination tracing back to religious based bigotry makes a mockery out of the principles supposedly enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Kudos to Dan and others who are willing to subject themselves to arrest in order to highlight this travesty.
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