Dan Choi Handcuffs Himself To White House In Don't Ask, Don't Tell Protest (VIDEO)

***UPDATE*** Scroll down for video from the scene.

***UPDATE*** Choi has been arrested and taken from the scene. More details from AmericaBlog here.

---

Lt. Dan Choi, who will be discharged from the military under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' since it has been revealed that he is gay, has chained himself to the White House in a protest of the gays in the military policy.

Choi spoke at a rally against DADT hosted by Kathy Griffin and Human Rights Campaign before leading a march of hundreds of protesters to the White House, where he handcuffed himself to the building's fence. (Ed. This post has been edited to clarify Choi's role at the rally.)

Pictures of Choi at the White House can be seen here and here.

Comments

[GenosseJoe]

08:42 AM on 03/21/2010

Gays chained to the fence.

Is it BDSM meeting?

[Salty 2]

11:28 PM on 03/20/2010

I just don't understand why the Gov has a problem with letting people who are willing to die for their country serve. I mean we are in more than one war. Are they saying he or she is not moral enough to go kill people.

[CigarGod]

09:30 AM on 03/21/2010

Have a cigar.
Great last sentence.

[kylennblack]

07:00 PM on 03/20/2010

His timing is late but the guy has cajones for protesting old school style.

Best wishes to Lt. Choi.

[DogoftheEarth]

04:54 PM on 03/20/2010

Pretty bad timing I'd say.

Doesn't he know there is something else going on in town this week?

[AguynamedWayne]

06:59 AM on 03/21/2010

Maybe you should get the facts. The discharges through DADT have CONTINUED at full pace, even after Obama's half hearted pledge of repeal. Promises with no ACTION are just words.

[DogoftheEarth]

08:54 AM on 03/21/2010

What's your point?

I said it was bad timing.

Everyone is watching the Health Care Debate this week.

No one is paying any attention to this.

[adoantarel]

02:35 PM on 03/21/2010

No action is what Bush did. There is action, slow as it is. That's government.

[AguynamedWayne]

04:46 PM on 03/20/2010

Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.

[hallowellboy]

03:04 PM on 03/20/2010

Time to "act up" folks. It's what changes history.

[adoantarel]

02:36 PM on 03/21/2010

Yeah, but are you sure you're changing it in the right direction. Acting like spoiled brats won't win us rights. Go show your support for the actions that are headed toward repeal.

[AnotherAngle]

12:42 PM on 03/20/2010

I believe the President told you he is cognizant of this issue and he needs a year to get it all figured out. And this one guy chaining himself to a fence is going to change the entire plan???

Okay.

[AguynamedWayne]

04:45 PM on 03/20/2010

Obama's made a lot of promises. The problem is, he doesn't keep them.

[WhatACountry]

05:22 PM on 03/21/2010

After only 1 year in office? Seriously, take the tinfoil hat off.

[AguynamedWayne]

07:31 AM on 03/20/2010

Nelson Montana - Huffpost Blogger:

"Okay, when everybody starts marching based on this guys actions I'll stand corrected. Till then -- I stand by my point."

Nelson, I have to ask did you see how many people marched behind Dan to the White House? How about the tens of thousands that were marching behind Dan at the National Equality March in Oct.

Tens of thousands aren't enough for you?

[CigarGod]

09:33 AM on 03/21/2010

Nelson lives in a bubble and thinks it is the world.

[cargofuzz]

01:35 PM on 03/19/2010

What would happen if ALL 66,000 plus gay/lesbian service members outed themselves on the same day? Would that be a call to action for Congress? If there was a possibility they would lose 66,000 of their military members all at once? I'm probably not the first to bring up this idea, but though I'd share it anyway.

[gschear]

02:32 PM on 03/19/2010

That would require individuals that were raised to understand the power of collective action. Since 1980 there has been a concerted successful effort to demonize Labor unions in this country. Organized labor is where the basics of collective action are taught.
This is one reason why in America, the people fear the government and why in Europe, the governments fear the people. The "general strike" is our big stick yet we have been conditioned against considering it.
The gay/lesbian folks in the military face an additional problem of having to remain closeted. This prevents them from communicating and forming associations that could give rise to collective action.
And there is another serious consideration. The UCMJ correctly prohibits political activities by uniformed members. I for one do not wish my military rank and file to be organized into political subgroups. I want them all to submit to the chain of command all the way to the C in C without question. Therefore it is up to us to help our fellow citizens in uniform attain and retain their rights as they put aside their personal convictions to serve the greater good of all.
Repeal DADT.

[cargofuzz]

02:42 PM on 03/19/2010

Thank you for your comments. That's why I posed the question. So I could get some input why this would or would not be a good idea. Above all, so many of us support the repeal of DADT and need to continue to support those in our armed services who are gay.

[CigarGod]

03:17 PM on 03/19/2010

Fanned.
Have a cigar.

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." - Thomas Jefferson -

[DrewDaugherty]

05:10 PM on 03/19/2010

Where are you getting that 66,000 number?

[davyd56]

12:31 PM on 03/19/2010

I say make DADT a national security issue and not a gay issue! Call the ones who support DADT weak on national defense...throw the useless crap right back in their faces.

[DrewDaugherty]

05:10 PM on 03/19/2010

That's pretty good.

[Todd Surfs]

06:52 PM on 03/19/2010

DADT IS a national security issue - and a gay issue. Booting out trained experts in time of war weakens unit morale and cohesion, "emboldening" the enemy, and essentially gives aid and comfort to the enemy. DADT's targets are gay (hence, a "gay" issue), but the treasonous destruction of our armed forces' readiness is the real (and unconscionable) issue, imperiling as it does our national security.

I say, after throwing the useless crap back in their faces, we take the appropriate action for treason in time of war; I forget whether it's death or life imprisonment, but I like either - especially if the gay-haters get burly cellmates with a taste for soft traitor flesh.

[davyd56]

10:24 PM on 03/19/2010

You just got fanned. Message is right on.

[Soulmentor]

12:07 PM on 03/19/2010

There is some criticism of Lt Choi that his actions were counter-productive, immature, self-centered. I suppose it can be seen that way by those who CHOOSE to see it that way, but I see something very calculated in what he has done.

He broke a military regulation by making a political statement in uniform. As an officer, I'm sure he knew the consequences so it must be asked why he did it. Let me suggest a very plausible possibility. HE PUT THE MILITARY BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
cont:

[Camm s]

12:48 PM on 03/19/2010

He was discharged before this action, he still had his uniform and chose to wear it to make a point.

[Sam1969]

12:58 PM on 03/19/2010

Too bad when he left they let him keep it!

[CigarGod]

12:58 PM on 03/19/2010

No.
He has not been discharged.

[Soulmentor]

12:07 PM on 03/19/2010

cont:
The Army, of which he is an officer, now has a HUGE PR problem that cannot be swept under the rug since Choi has become a national gays-in-the-military icon. They have a choice now to prosecute him, in which case they create a martyr, or try to find a way to let his actions pass, in which case they do not enforce an important, valid regulation. They had already made the case for openly gay military service when they let Choi go back to duty. Now they have a more serious PR mess on their hands that isn't going to go away. Meantime, Choi is becoming a focus for all gays and lesbians currently in the service and the majority of other service members for whom this is a non-issue (not to mention growing public sympathy). No doubt there is a festering undercurrent of unrest among currently serving gays and lesbians who understand that he is sacrificing himself for them. What must be happening to "good order and morale" with that growing realization of the basic contradiction DADT is to the idea of honor, honesty, commeraderie and trust within the ranks. Even the str8 service members must know that they too, are living the lie.
cont

[Sam1969]

12:45 PM on 03/19/2010

Choi needs to go!

[gschear]

02:12 PM on 03/19/2010

Choi knows that he is already gone.
Even if DADT were repealed tomorrow he still wouldn't be allowed to stay because of his actions. Political activity in Uniform is rightly prohibited.
Choi chose to help other people in his situation now and in the future by doing what he could to apply pressure for change. That makes him a good American who knowingly gave up the slim chance his career had by violating the UCMJ to make a political point.
Good man.

[Soulmentor]

12:06 PM on 03/19/2010

cont:

I do not envy the military (and pandering pols) ownership of this conundrum, but feel no pity for them. They brought this on themselves with an intransigence toward an irrational, foolish and unwarranted prejudice. They know the solution to the problem. Grow up, suck it up and get on with ending DADT.

The military cannot repeal DADT any more than the President can, but the military CAN proceed to totally ignore that law (yes, they can look the other way as they are already often doing) while letting Congress know it is not working anymore. It's getting in the way of "good order and morale". The President, Gates, Mullen, Patreus and very likely a majority of the military and political leaders know that. So just do it already.

[CigarGod]

12:42 PM on 03/19/2010

Fanned.
Have a cigar.

Actually, both the military and the president have lawful tools to suspend dadt.

[Soulmentor]

01:11 PM on 03/19/2010

Suspend, yes, but not repeal. And I HATE cigars, but thanks for the thought. How bout a brandy, instead?

[Nelson Montana]

11:31 AM on 03/19/2010

Let me preface this by saying I'm all for repealing DADT. Now, can we have a reasonable debate?
Okay, here goes...

I think people often confuse is the CAUSE with the COMPLAINT. In other words, if someone thinks this action is wrong, it's presumed it's because they're anti gay. We all need to be a little more tolerant.

I know a lot of people may not want to hear this but, If you really want DADT repealed, it would behoove the effort to do it in a dignified manner. Exaggerating the stereotype of gays as being petulant and flamboyant and shoving it in peoples faces may "feel good" but it doesn't win anybody over. It's preaching -- or showboating, to the choir.

The same thing can be said about many aspects of life. Telling you boss he's an a-hole may be a dramatic and bold gesture, but it doesn't get you the raise. Which is more important to you?

It's a comfortable belief that one person can make a change -- ala Rosa Parks. But Park's action alone, didn't really make for change. She became a symbol of the change that had to be. This guy's actions are not the same. Bottom line: There's a difference between "taking a stand" and "grandstanding."

[Camm s]

11:49 AM on 03/19/2010

Fanned!

[jcwtts1]

11:55 AM on 03/19/2010

You have to build pressure on pols to make them do the right thing. My issue with the LGBT community is that they have no plan of action, that it all seems a little helter skelter and made for tv, but the point is they are out there trying. Choi has a point. If he weren't wearing his uniform I would be with him completely. As it is, his argument has merit, your read that his protest is a caricature of a real protest is offensive.

Finally, in the last several years many pols who wanted to help Obama made comments similar to yours, they said he was "clean" "articulate" "had no negro dialect" what they were all saying is that he was conservative enough not to scare white people. What you seem to be saying is you want someone gay but not too gay instead of someone who would fall elsewhere on the LGBT spectrum. While you may be right, may be correct that the world isn't ready for someone who is "flamboyantly" LGBT or "shoving it in peoples faces," you shouldn't be happy about that, smug about it. You should resist the desire for conformity, for normative positioning and embrace the whole spectrum of difference. If you are only supporting the LGBT community for the ones that can pass I believe you are more damaging to the cause than people who simply hate LGBTQ out of ignorance or fear. Just one straight guys opinion.

[AguynamedWayne]

11:06 AM on 03/19/2010

I served a full term of duty in the US Army, the majority of my fellow soldiers within my unit either knew, or suspected I was gay. It never made a bit of difference. But sadly, bigotry and homophobia continue to deny untold amounts of qualified soldiers from serving their country openly and with honor.

DADT is a disgrace is is Obama and the Dems continued lack of ACTION.

[AguynamedWayne]

11:10 AM on 03/19/2010

Should read "as is" Obama's and the Dems continued lack of ACTION.

[jcwtts1]

11:56 AM on 03/19/2010

We're moving on it. If you think Health Care was slow think about something like this. Even addressing it in the second year is a miracle in my opinion.

J