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Gay soldier from Tustin faces military court tomorrow
June 29th, 2009, 12:57 pm · 38 Comments · posted by Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter
UPDATED with President Obama’s comments today regarding rescinding the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Tustin’s Dan Choi, a lieutenant in the Army National Guard, is remarkable enough for his academic and professional achievements. But in recent months he’s become known nationwide for more controversial activities: announcing that he is gay on national television and for helping lead the push to allow openly gay men and women to serve in the armed forces.
But tomorrow, Choi’s own job is on the line. He will be in military court defending himself against an effort to oust him for “moral and professional dereliction” related to his announcement on television in March that he’s gay. That violated the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy instituted under President Bill Clinton.
Choi is part of a movement urging President Barack Obama to follow through on a campaign promise to allow gays in the military to come out of the closet without getting kicked out of the service. In March, he helped launch “Knights Out,” which encourages gay graduates of West Point academy to publicly declare their sexual preference. So far, more than 70 - including Choi - have done so.
Choi, the son of a Baptist minister who served in the South Korean Army, was a straight-A student and president of his senior class at Tustin High School. At West Point, he became fluent in Arabic and studied environmental engineering. In 2003, her served his first stint in Iraq. In 2008, he decided not to reenlist, instead becoming a platoon leader in the National Guard.
He also enrolled at Harvard, where he is seeking a master’s degree in Middle East and religious studies. However, he’s currently on leave from school.
“Coming out as turned out to be a full-time job,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle before serving as the Gay Pride Parade marshal in San Francisco last weekend. He’d never attended a gay pride parade before.
At least 12,500 gays and lesbians have been kicked out of the military for violating the “don’t ask, don’t tell policy.” An estimated 65,000 are believe to be currently serving, according to the Chronicle.
More than 140,00 people have signed a “Don’t Fire Dan” letter to Obama. You can see the letter here.
Choi’s hearing begins at 8 a.m. EDT at the New York National Guard Armory in Syracuse.
The Register’s Cameron Bird looked behind the scenes at Choi’s - and his family’s - struggle to come to grips with his sexuality. Click here to read that story.
UPDATE:
Obama gave this speech today about gay rights. It included the following comments about the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
And finally, I want to say a word about “don’t ask, don’t tell.” As I said before — I’ll say it again — I believe “don’t ask, don’t tell” doesn’t contribute to our national security. (Applause.) In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security. (Applause.)
Now, my administration is already working with the Pentagon and members of the House and the Senate on how we’ll go about ending this policy, which will require an act of Congress.
Someday, I’m confident, we’ll look back at this transition and ask why it generated such angst, but as Commander-in-Chief, in a time of war, I do have a responsibility to see that this change is administered in a practical way and a way that takes over the long term. That’s why I’ve asked the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a plan for how to thoroughly implement a repeal.
I know that every day that passes without a resolution is a deep disappointment to those men and women who continue to be discharged under this policy — patriots who often possess critical language skills and years of training and who’ve served this country well. But what I hope is that these cases underscore the urgency of reversing this policy not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it is essential for our national security.
Now, even as we take these steps, we must recognize that real progress depends not only on the laws we change but, as I said before, on the hearts we open. For if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that there are good and decent people in this country who don’t yet fully embrace their gay brothers and sisters — not yet.
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DENA BUNIS, Washington bureau chief, 202-628-6381 or dbunis@ocregister.com
BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento correspondent, 916-449-6046 or bjoseph@ocregister.com
JENNIFER MUIR, County government reporter, 714-796-7813 or jmuir@ocregister.com
JOEL WALSH, Washington bureau intern, 202-628-6381 or jwalsh@ocregister.com
MARTIN WISCKOL, Politics reporter, 714-285-2867 or mwisckol@ocregister.com twitter.com/MartinWisckol
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Gay? who care?
looks like he will be looking for a job tomorrow!!!
It’s not news anymore. Let us know when there is a change in the policy. I have no doubt I fought alonside Marines that were or may have been gay, but when the stuff was happening and they were doing their share in battle…..I can’t say it would have made a difference to me. I didn’t know and I didn’t care. Besides. we all had our own sleeping bags and cots (at times). The great thing is, after 2 tours in beautiful Southeast Asia, I’m here to still not care about someone elses lifestyle.
Wow. He sounds like a great guy. Anyone who risks their lives on the front line should be honored. Who cares what their persuasion is. And why is this such an issue with the military? So, let’s see…male senators can conduct affairs with a man or woman, and stain blue dresses, but gawd forbid any military personnel should be gay??? I don’t get it. Shed some light here.
I hope he dresses appropriately!
Its odd that the military will welcome unskilled illegals while dening an highly educated American Citizen with speical skills to serve. Its time to replea the Don’t ask Don’t tell policy.
Yeap, repeal it and replace it with what worked before: Ask, Tell, and if needed, deny. That seemed to work prior to Clinton. Problem solved.
Oh, wait, you don’t want that, do you, or the half a loaf already provided by Clinton, right?
Uh Unskilled illegals? Just FYI most Boots out of High school are unskilled thats why most of them go into the military to become skilled. Dumb comment. This article pertains to Gay soldiers NOT illegals.
Yeah…Let’s kick out a good soldier who is fluent in arabic…That is what we need to do right now…The country will be safer for it I am sure…
if gays want to take a bullet for my freedom, i say let him/her.
i have no problem with that. fight the good fight choi!
I am very proud of all of you for supporting this wonderful man. He risked his life for us. There are still so many hateful people out there…..I am pleased to see so much support for him.
My wife & I both agree it is time to get rid of this ridiculous policy the military has. If you know your history, than you know they said the same thing about integrating military units with blacks: that it would disrupt military effectiveness. Bigotry is bigotry no matter who it is aimed at.
Steve I totally agree with you and your wife. Your point about the fear in the integrating military units with blacks and the bigotry it represented is right on. People like Choi are fighting, their jobs are to protect the rights of us and others. What sexual orientation has to so with it I’ll never understand. Go Lt. Dan Choi, you are a hero in every way.
yes it is news— and im so sorry that mr. choi has had to endure this type of judgement. as a person in the military or as a human being. it’s wrong wrong wrong…
when we let our government treat our “volunteer’s” in this fashion— it’s very disappointing. and when we allow churches to pay for ballot measures that take away civil rights— that is wrong too.
we are all created equal remember?
apparently some people get to choose who is equal now and who is not.
hopefully the children of these judgemental officials wont face this feeling of being “less than” a human being
so what if he likes entering the back door! If he wants to serve our country then let him, but give him his own place to shower though because he likes men and we dont let men who are straight shower with women because the women wouldn’t appreciate that very much and I know I wouldn’t appreciate it very much having a gay man showering with me because I know he is attracted to other men…maybe not me, but he still is attracted to other men and that would make most straight men feel a little uncomfortable and also please dont talk about your back door entry in front of straight men, again most of us don’t like and don’t want to hear about it.
look the guy was gay before he ever “came out”, therefore GAY when he EARNED the rank of LIEUTENANT…ya walk the walk, ya tend to business…ya ALSO put yer britches on just like me…..you are willing to put yer LIFE on the line for ME and my family…and OUR COUNTRY, OUR FREEDOM..u go ahead on LT Dan CHOI…and THANK YOU.
It is time to stop this nonsense now and allow the Chois of America to serve openly.It is beyond absurd that we still have this policy.
Unfortunately, someone like Choi would be shot by his own troops if he is openly gay. Why, you ask? Because the overwhealming number of solders in this county are from uneducated backgrounds and from small towns. They will shoot him once they are in battle. Even Choi knows it. This is a big concern with the Military. Plus if there are openly gay officers people won’t join. It would be nice if gays could be open and gay in the military but in reality there are too many negatives like the ones mentioned above. Plus, no one in my office runs around saying thier gay. Its unproffesional and choi is trying to make a political statement.
Sorry, reality bites.
OMG. Talk about ignorance. ^^ Prime example.
14 countries allow gay people to serve openly in the military: Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Uruguay. I don’t recall hearing about straight solders shooting gay solders in these countries. Yet in America this is a reasonable expectation. Not everyone is THAT homophobic.
Your office analogy would make sense if you said, “People in my office have been ordered to keep their heterosexuality a secret, and they have to pretend to be gay to fit in. Plus, if anyone finds out that they are heterosexual they should report that person, which will result in that person being fired.”
It’s despicable for people to disgracefully compared the homosexual movement with the civil right movement. Dr. King was killed standing up for humanity and not for perversion. I am not homophobic, because i do not have a fear for the homos. But i am HOMODISGUSTED.
Homophobic… “an extreme and irrational aversion to homosexuality and homosexual people.”
I’d say you’re homophobic and a bigot. By the way, a person’s sexual orientation is not a perversion.
Barney—In response to your post,any soldier who would kill Choi for being gay is a disgrace to the uniform and should be given life at hard labor with no parole.Also,any who would be reluctant to join if gays were allowed in the service are recruits we shouldn’t want.
We shouldn’t refuse to do what is right because some will do what is wrong.
Right on. IMO if anyone needs to be shot it should be Barney, Vu, and Jim. To think gays in the military like Lt. Dan Choi, are protecting our freedoms for these idiot citizens, and these homophobics have no respect. Shameful.
again with the homophobic label.. it’s HOMODISGUSTED.
Right on. To think gays in the military like Lt. Dan Choi, are protecting our freedoms for these idiot citizens, and these homophobics have no respect. Shameful.
Vu—-Your comments are backward and an embarrassment to this country.
mensarino-my comments are backward how? isn’t backward for to people involve in sexual perversion without any posivitive result, such as reproduction? then again, perhaps you were conceived and gave birth to by your two daddies or mommies.
Vu…
Oh yeah.. MUCH beter to have all those drug addicts, crack ho’s, welfare deadbeats, etc.. etc.. have TONS of babies via “wholesome” male/female reporoduction… now THAT’s a “positive result!”
What a moron.
drug addicts, crack ho’s, welfare deadbeats???? WOW such compassion from you socaldiva. I thought only backward, moron like myself are ignorance and intolerance. wowowowowow, talk about the MTV educated generation.
“isn’t backward for to people involve in sexual perversion without any posivitive result, such as reproduction?”
Whut? Only sex acts that can result in conception are okay? Everything else is a “perversion” ? What about a heterosexual couple who cannot have children, or any person who has had a permanent sterilization procedure done, or a woman past menopause, would any sex they have also be labeled a “perversion” ?
OMG, the state of ignorance here is unbelievable.
At least those heterosexual couples have a chance, regardless how miniscule that chance might be. They still have a chance. HOMOSEXUAL what chance do they have. Maybe you can use the line by harvey milks, “at least we try”. And i’m the ignorant. Funny.
mensarino–People like yourself are the reason the rest of the world view us with disdain and morally corrupted degenerates. One act of good deed cannot serve as a quid pro quo for a lifetime of perversion.
So whats the problem/fuss? He is a security risk moreover has a mental disorder
Jim—-Look into the mirror to see the mental disorder.
Many other western democracies already have intergrated their military forces with openly gay soldiers.
If we were so concerned about combat or other readiness, why did we join teams with UK armed forces, who already allow openly gay soldiers to serve without hindrance? There even is a Pentagon think tank report famously floating around somewhere, telling us how little abandoning DADT would likely affect us, provided we orient, educate, and train our troops so that everybody knows what the professional military expectations are.
If people were not encouraged to cling to ignorance and flat earth beliefs about gay people, gay soldiers would be hardly a problem issue. DADT actually demonstrates the harms and extra weights that flat earth beliefs about gays tend to involve.
Opinions, understandings, law, public policy has changed lots, and will continue to change more.
Thanks to Lt Choi, and all the diligent members of armed forces whom he represents, now that he can be more Out. Bravo, thanks.
Vu——Psychology does not consider homosexuality a perversion,only ignorant backward types still cling to that belief.Get an education!
Jim and Vu are 2 reasons why I’m embarrased to be part of the human race.
human race!! funny you said that. if we continue to cave into the pressure of perverts like Jim and mensarino, then there will not be a human race for you to be embarassed about.
Psychology!! didn’t freud said every action is a correlation to deep sexual perversion. Perhaps, you are just too stupid to distinguish the difference mensarino.