Tag Archives: Lt. Dan Choi
Video – Dan Choi Rips Up Autograph After Being Told The Person Doesn’t Support Gay Marriage
At this afternoon’s Netroots Nation 11 panel entitled “‘What To Do When The President Is Just Not That Into You.’
An Obama for President volunteer named Nick Tischda (strangely) approached Dan Choi and the panel during the Q&A was going to get Dan Choi’s autograph on one of the flyers that he had. And he almost got it, until he mentioned that he was against gay marriage at which point Choi ripped the flyer in pieces and threw it down at Tischda.
I was at the panel in the front row and I’ll say with all honesty it was a nice piece of drama but somethings not sitting right with me about this. It is bizarre to say the least
Watch the video and see what you think.
Many thanks to ThinkProgress.org for uploading the video
Dan Choi Defends Attending CPAC To Michelangelo Singorile… MASSIVE FAIL!
Dan Choi appeared on The Gist hosted by Michelangelo Signorelli today to defend attending the Conservative Political Action Conference with GoProud, the waaaaaay far right fringe Republican gay group it’s President the ab obsessed Chris R. Barron who seems to happily bash the gay left. “The American Taliban” as he calls them and whose group stands against many gay rights issues.such as the fact that Barron and GOProud stand with the the GOP saying that gay marriage should be up to individual states only . GOProud also opposes ENDA. GOProud opposes the DOMA repeal. GOProud opposes partnership inclusion in UAFA. That a really good gay rights agenda there so it just makes sense Choi would defend them, right?
You can listen to Choi’s excuses by clicking HERE
Personally I think they are all bullshit. I was actually holding judgement until I heard this interview and I will go on record as calling Choi a media whore right now. Not even he could be so naive to believe that his presence will “change” anyone there. And so everyone knows just to be fair I also have feel the same way about Choi going to receive an award from “The Task Force” aka NGLTF which had to rebrand because people were beginning to realize that Rea Carey and NGLTF do jack shit and messed up our entire fight for rights during Obama’s first two years in office by kissing ass and doing nothing.
For Dan Choi, who I once though was a LGBT hero to attend CPAC with a gay group that seems hell bent on hurting us and to accept an award from a group that at one time called him dangerous to cause is an insult to those of us who once believed in him and proves that the INTEGRITY that he once had is gone.
So fucking pathetic.
Lt. Dan Choi Hospitalizes Self, Seeks Mental Health Assistance Due To Stress and Depression
Lt. Dan Choi who has been the leading activist in the fight to repeal DADT is seeking help from mental health practitioners at a Veterans Administration to deal with stress and depression.
Dan wrote in an e-mail to Pam Spauding over at Pam’s House Blend:
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.
I am glad that Dan realized the stress and depression and is seeking help. One can only imagine what this man has been through. Fighting honorably for his country in Iraq, then being told he can’t because he’s gay, and then fighting for the right to return and dealing with the liars and homophobes in Washington and within our community (Hi HRC!) only to be fed bullshit over and over and run into brick walls. I can totally relate. It’s hard enough and sometimes extremely depressing just blogging about the depressing state of and news with the LGBT Community and our fight for civil rights. I can only imagine what choi has had to go through being on the front lines of both this dirty war and the front lines of Washington LGBT activism.
Get some rest and fell better Dan. And thank you for all the hard work.
13 Gay Vets and Activist Chain Themselves To White House Fence. It Should Be 1300! – STAND UP and ACT OUT!
Thirteen gay rights advocates, veterans, and advocates for repeal of DADT chained themselves to the White House fence today and were arrested as they called on U.S. Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, and President Obama to do the RIGHT THING and make good on their promises to secure the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” during the abbreviated, lame-duck session of Congress that started today
ONLY THIRTEEN.
After all the lies, abuse, bullying, berating, and unequal treatment that we have endured not only for the past few years under the Obama Administration but since literally the beginning of time only 13 people had the guts to make a stand a and chain themselves to The White House Fence.
WHERE ARE THE REST OF US?
We’ve obviously seen that talking politely and trying to change minds about the deplorable second class treatment that this country lays up[on us doesn’t work. The kissing ass, the cocktail parties, the calling of our lame ass career politicians, NONE of it works. And really aren’t we pissed off and shouldn’t we have the right to be? And not just about DADT. How about ENDA, DOMA, and all the other unfair shit that we have laid upon us here in “supposedly” the greatest country on earth that still treats 10 percent of its population like shit.
There should be 1300 chaining themselves to The White House Fence. There should be daily pickets. LGBT American Citizens should be holding back part of their tax payments in protest. Not an Equal Citizen? Don’t pay Equal Taxes. We should be calling on our LGBT friends in civilized countries like the United Kingdon, France, Germany, The Neatherlands to publicly ridicule and embarrass the United States over its treatment of it’s LGBT citizens.
It’s well past time people to take off the white gloves and stand up and ACT OUT in the fight for Equal Rights. Picket, protest, boycott, write letters, and get angry and channel that anger. Just stand up and do something.
The 80’s had ACT UP in response to the AIDS Crisis. And now 30 years later perhaps it’s time to start ACT OUT in response to the LGBT Human and Civil Rights Crisis.
ACT OUT!
Arrested Today
*Five veterans (Lt. Dan Choi, Petty Officer Autumn Sandeen, Cpl. Evelyn Thomas, and Cadet Mara Boyd) who were arrested back in March during the GetEQUAL organized “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” act of civil disobedience at the White House fence demanding President Obama show leadership on repeal.
*Robin McGehee, co-founder and director of GetEQUAL, and Dan Fotou, action strategist for GetEQUAL.
*Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Miriam Ben-Shalom, who was discharged in 1976 for declaring and admitting she was a lesbian. She became the first-ever LGBT servicemember reinstated to her position in the U.S. Military, by a U.S. Federal District Court. On July 30th, 1993, Miriam and 26 other protesters were arrested at the White House fence for protesting then-President Bill Clinton’s broken promise to repeal the gay ban – instead signing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” bill into law.
*Former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Justin Elzie who, in 1993, became the first Marine ever investigated and discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. Elzie was also the first soldier to be discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to fight his discharge and win – resulting in his service as a Marine for four years as an openly gay man.
*Former U.S. Army Arabic Linguist Ian Finkenbinder, who was discharged from the Army in December 2004 after announcing to his superiors that he was gay. Finkenbinder is an Iraq war veteran and was about to return for a second tour of duty when he was discharged.
*U.S. Army Veteran and Repeal Advocate Rob Smith, who was deployed to both Iraq and Kuwait before being honorably discharged after deciding not to re-enlist in the U.S. Army due to the added pressure of living under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.
*Father Geoff Farrow, a Catholic priest who spoke out against the church’s official stance in support of California’s Proposition 8, removing the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Because of his courageous stance against Prop 8, Father Geoff Farrow was removed as pastor of St. Paul’s by his bishop and suspended as a priest.
*Scott Wooledge, a New York-based LGBT civil rights advocate and blogger who has written extensively on the movement to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” at Daily Kos and Pam’s House Blend.
*Michael Bedwell, long-time LGBT civil rights advocate, close friend of Leonard Matlovich, and administrator of the site http://www.leonardmatlovich.com/
GetEQUAL & Discharged Gay Vets Descend On Senator Harry Reid’s Office and Demand Answers on ‘DADT Repeal’. Gets NONE
This morning Dan Choi, Jim Pietrangelo, Autumn Sandeen, and 9 GetEQUAL activists have gone to Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office to ask for an audience with Reid and get some answers about whats going on with DADT.
You’ll remember that Choi made headlines at Netroots Nation in Las Vegas when he approached Senator Harry Reid on-stage at a main conference event and gave his West Point cadet ring to Senator Harry Reid. At that time, Senator Reid – in front of this large crowd of progressive/liberal bloggers and activists, Senator Reid promised Dan that he would return the ring by the end of this year when the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy is repealed. Dan’s question to Senator Reid – ‘can I expect my ring back this year or not?'”
Reid did not have an answer.
According to the latest Tweets from GetEqual Reid Reid had absolutely no answers for them and that The White House has not even talked with Reid’s office yet about about further movement on the DADT repeal.
This is how much our country cares about its LGBT soilders and citizens.
Have we had enough of this shit yet?
A Veteran’s Day Message From Lt. Dan Choi
“As we fight to repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ we know that this fight can easily be more painful than physical combat, as the people we fought to protect subject us to the harsh bigotry of popularity polls and the soft bigotry of political inaction. Caught in this battlefield, it is easy to claim victimhood and suffocate in the sadness of national betrayal. Gay Americans, like all scapegoated and stigmatized minorities in America’s history, know this feeling all too well. But just as all the patriots who had to come home to fight for equality, we cannot heal our injuries by permanent sorrow and self-pity. The only treatment that can heal the wounds of betrayal and hatred is a recommitment to fight for each other, to stand up for each other, to love one another.” – Lt. Dan Choi, in a Veteran’s Day message on The Huffington Post
Dan Choi and Michelangelo Signorile Appear on CNN Newsroom With Dan Lemon (Video)
Dan Choi and Michelangelo Signorile appeared on CNN last night and talked about Choi’s recent discharge, how the movement that has been made on the DADT repeal reently is a direct result of Choi’s involvement in the activism against DADT, how the DADT and the DADT surevey being homophobic biased.
An nteresting watch. It would be nice if network news would do interviews and stories like this.
BREAKING NEWS! – Dan Choi Delivers Letter To Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid And Relinquishes West Point Ring (Video)
From Pam’s House Blend comes the breaking news that Lt. Dan Choi who was just days ago “oficially” discharged from the United States Military under the United States disctiminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy for being gay has delivered a letter to Sen Reid about his military service, DADT and his West Point ring at Rieds “Netroots Nation” appearance today.
July 24, 2010
The Honorable Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader:
Dear Harry:
My West Point ring has always symbolized an irrevocable promise: my commitment to serving America and my duty to defend freedom and justice. Today, with my discharge from the army for telling the truth, the ring takes on a new meaning, serving as a symbol for the enduring pain of broken promises.America was founded on the principles of inalienable rights, equality, and the promise of justice for all. But today, Americans remain segregated from that promise. Fired from our jobs, discriminated in the military, denied equal access to our own integrity and acknowledgement of our families, we cannot conclude that our country has manifested its own promise, over 230 years later.
You have also made personal promises to me that the senate would repeal military discrimination before the end of 2009. Indeed, you sent a letter to President Obama and Secretary Gates, claiming that was the most you could do to save my career. You promised to lead on repeal of discrimination. I believed your promise because you are the most powerful senator in America. Truly, no one can do more. The false hope of your promise has been made real to me today with another letter: the letter terminating my military service.
But I present this ring to you, symbolizing my promise as a fellow citizen: my service continues.
I promise I will hold you accountable to your obligations to lead in the effort to end discrimination, both in the workplace and in the military. My promise is not merely written on a piece of paper or words alone, but in the hearts of every lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender American fired from their jobs because of broken promises from those who purport to be our friends. History will judge us and conclude that the greatest obstacles to justice were not the loud rants of bigots, but the quiet fears of those unwilling to stand firm in the fulfillment of their commitments. I refuse to allow my friends register themselves in history as obstacles to justice.
I commit to you my renewed pledge and continued service. To you and all those “friends” who manipulate, deceive and exploit our community, I will serve as a reminder of the consequences we all pay when allegiance to political careers takes higher priority than allegiance to America’s promise.
Sincerely,
Lt. Dan Choi
US Army, Discharged under DADT
Poingant, bittersweet, and totally maddening that this has to happen.
Lt. Dan Choi Has Been Officiailly And Fully Discharged From The Army
On June 29 Lt. Dan Choi’s discharge from the Army under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was finalized. Choi’s National Guard unit informed him by registered mail and with phone messages. Dan has not publically disclosed the action.
On June 28, 2009 Choi talked with President Obama at a White House reception commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion, Obama said to Choi and the crowd, “I believe ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ doesn’t contribute to our national security.” Obama had promised to repeal the law, which requires the military to fire any openly gay, lesbian or bisexual service member”
Two days later, a military review board in Syracuse, N.Y. recommended that the Army discharge 1st Lt. Dan Choi, and now one year later Choi has been offically released from service and is out of the Army.
WHEN will this bullshit end?