Dan Choi to Army over Discharge Bill: Nuts!

The U.S. Army has sent Lt. Dan Choi a bill for $2,500.00 for his discharge for being gay.  The letter Choi received states the money is for the "unearned portion of your enlistment or reenlistment bonus."  That's right, America, the Army kicked him out for being gay and is charging him for it.  Lt. Choi sent President Obama a letter:

"By flagrantly and repeatedly violating an immoral law, I have flagrantly and repeatedly saluted the honor of America's promise. At West Point, when we recited the Cadet Prayer we reminded ourselves "always to choose the harder right over the easier wrong." It would be easy to pay the $2500 bill and be swiftly done with this diseased chapter of my life, where I sinfully deceived and tolerated self-hatred under Don't Ask Don't Tell. Many thousands have wrestled with their responsibilities and expedient solutions when confronted with issues of this magnitude. I understand you also wrestle with issues of our equality. But I choose to cease wrestling, to cease the excuses, to cease the philosophical grandstanding and ethical gymnastics of political expediency in the face of moral duty. My obligations to take a stand, knowing all the continued consequences of my violations, are clear. I refuse to pay your claim."

h/t LC NY Bureau Chief Doug

Dan Choi on Love and Honesty

Dan Choi, open and honest, speaks movingly of love, his partner, and the importance of being out:



Via Mark Ambinder

Dan Choi on his Discharge

1LT Dan Choi was formally discharged from the New York Army National Guard earlier this week for the "homosexual conduct" of stating "I am gay."  He received an honorable discharge.  Here, he discusses it with Rachel Maddow and speaks eloquently of the closet:



In case you were wondering what Dan was doing in Vegas, here's the answer:



To quote Dan Savage, "you're not a bad person for thinking Dan Choi looks good in handcuffs. He spends a lot of time in 'em and he wears 'em better than most."

Charges Abruptly Dropped Against Choi, Pietrangelo

Charges against 1LT Dan Choi and CPT Jim Pietrangelo for chaining themselves to the White House fence were dropped today, moments before trial was to start.  All parties were in the courtroom,  including arresting officers from the Secret Service and the DC Police who were apparently ready to serve as witnesses.  The prosecutor, Christina Chang, was asked if the decision to drop the charges was due to her readiness for trial, and she responded flatly, "I was ready."  

Ordinarily, charges are dropped at the last minute due to a plea deal or previously-undiscovered flaw in the Government's case.  There was certainly no plea deal as Choi and Pietrangelo were simply set free.   Further, Chang's words make clear that she had confidence in her case.  Choi and Pietrangelo subpoenaed President Obama, who was unlikely to be forced to appear, but clearly they were going to make every effort to put Don't Ask/Don't Tell on trial.  Now, they won't have that opportunity.

The White House incident was featured in last night's episode of Kathy Griffin, My Life on the D List in which Choi and Pietrangelo turned HRC's staged celebrity rally into the real thing through an act of civil disobedience.   

1LT Choi Felt Betrayed by HRC

Dan Choi gave an interview with Newsweek Magazine and didn't hold back on HRC's rally for the cameras:

"If [the Human Rights Campaign] thinks that having a rally at Freedom Plaza with a comedienne is the right approach, I have to wonder. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is not a joking matter to me. To be at Freedom Plaza and not at the White House or Congress? Who are they trying to influence? I felt like they were just trying to speak to themselves. If that's the best the lobbying groups and HRC can do, then I don't know how these powerful groups are supposed to represent our community. Kathy Griffin and [HRC president] Joe Solmonese said they would march with me to the White House but didn’t. I feel so betrayed by them."

I think Choi just drove the final nail into the coffin of HRC's relevance. 

Dan Choi Out of Jail

1LT Dan Choi and CPT Jim Pietrangelo have been released from jail after pleading not guilty and demanding a trial.  They were brought into the courtroom in handcuffs and leg irons to make their pleas.  Choi said "I plead not guilty and I am not ashamed. And, I am not finished."  Here's what he had to say outside the courtroom.  Note that they're wearing no military insignia and therefore not violating military regulations:



Americablog has more.

Dan Choi Back on Duty

The U.S. Army has called 1LT Dan Choi back to duty and he's currently doing what he does best, defending America!   His discharge is not final until his commander signs off on it and he's not pushing it.  Why should he?  Choi's a fine officer and we're fighting two wars.  We need to keep the best of the best on the job.  Read all about it here.