Homo Hero: Dan Choi
2 Jul 2009
"I'm gay", says Iraq War Veteran - 'You're fired' recommend US Military
Lieutenant Dan Choi, who came out on US national television, could be discharged for breaking the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law which prevents military recruiters in the States from asking about sexual orientation and bars service members from revealing they are gay. This will make him the first member of the New York National Guard to be discharged under the policy.
During a four-hour hearing, Choi said he was being fired "for nothing more than telling the truth about who I am".
He added: "I'm a leader. A setback is an opportunity to keep fighting, and I'm going to do that through my actions."
Earlier this year, the 28-year-old infantry platoon leader defied the military gay ban by coming out live on TV. He is a co-founder of Knights Out, a support group comprising graduates from the US Military Academy of West Point. The organisation's mission is to lobby for the rights of LGBT soldiers to openly serve their country, and to educate West Point's future military leaders about the need to accept its LGBT troops.
The "don't ask, don't tell" policy was put in place in 1993 by former US president Bill Clinton. It forbids military recruiters from asking someone about his or her sexual orientation, but also prohibits a service member from revealing if he or she is gay. About 10,500 military personnel were discharged for violating the policy between 1997 and 2008 .
Barack Obama has pledged to work to end the policy, but has made no specific move to do so since taking office in January. The White House has said it won't stop the military from dismissing gay soldiers who admit their sexuality.
As Choi prepared for his hearing he took part in gay rights demonstrations and met members of Congress to advocate an end to the ban on openly gay soldiers. 'They have a hard enough job as it is, so why would you force them into the closet?' asks Choi.
US military panel calls for gay soldier to be discharged:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/01/american-gay-soldier-discharge-call
National Guard: Gay Iraq vet must leave:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/06/30/us.military.gays/
Organisation of the GLBT Alumni of the US Military Academy at West Point and their allies:
http://knightsout.org/
Obama: Judge me by the promises I keep:
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13028.html
Being gay in the UK forces has only been legal since 2000. For outnorthwest magazine, we talked to men and women from our military who experienced homophobia in Her Majesty's Forces.
One of the people spoken to includes LGF's very own web editor and ex-Royal Engineer, {cms_selflink page="marc-robinson" text="Marc Robinson"}.
{cms_selflink page="military-pride" text="Read the articles by clicking here"}
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I was lucky enough to see Dan Choi take to the streets of San Francisco as one of SF Pride's Grand Marshalls - this was the Saturday before Tuesday's hearing.
Like Choi says, he's a leader and his decision to come out and challenge "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is an important step forward in getting right wing America to realise the contributions LGBT people make in all walks of life - in this case, protecting the US.
Choi hasn't only taken on the US Military, he's blown many gay stereotypes out of the water. His actions have hopefully made many American's question "Don't Ask Don't Tell", who maybe wouldn't have done before.
Everyone should have the right to openly serve in the army, aren't soldiers owed that considering the sacrifices they are making.
For more on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" check out the "Ask Not" documentary on PBS at http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/
Jo
Posted by Joanne Dunning, 05/07/2009 2:33pm (1 year ago)