Gay Soldier Dan Choi Discharged From Army Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (VIDEO)

TUSTIN, Calif. -- A gay soldier from California says he's been honorably discharged from the Army National Guard under the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Lt. Dan Choi, an Iraq war veteran from Orange County, was discharged from the New York Army National Guard on Thursday. He called the move "infuriating and painful."

Choi announced he was gay on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" more than a year ago. He had been waiting for military officials to decide whether he would be discharged.

"Don't ask, don't tell" prohibits the military from asking about the sexual orientation of service members but requires discharge of those who acknowledge being gay or are discovered to be engaging in homosexual activity.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow interviewed Choi about his discharge on her show Thursday night. Watch a clip:

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Comments

[Waffen]

03:32 PM on 07/30/2010

About time he got kicked out, should have happened long ago.

[kiddub]

10:09 AM on 07/29/2010

I don't see how he didn't see this coming. He's been rubbing the military's nose in this, and as much as it should be changed, current policy is DADT. The military is still a heirarchical organization and one must follow rules and regulations. He didn't. That being said, he is a very courageous individual who sacrificed his career for what he believed in, and I wish him all the best.

[Chico41]

10:50 AM on 07/30/2010

The only way these discriminatory rules are going to be changed is if people continue to address them. We can't just say "Oh well, that's the rule so there's nothing we can do". What if Rosa Parks had moved to the back of the bus? Just because something is a rule doesn't make it right, and doesn't mean it shouldn't be changed.

[kiddub]

11:57 AM on 07/30/2010

Agreed. But Rosa Parks knew she would cause some sort of stir, probably not the international debate, but she knew someone would say something. My pooint is that I believe in the story he said he was surprised and disappointed. If you play a game of brinksmanship with the military, you are going to lose in the short term. They are a conservative organization (meaning ability to change policy) and a change such as this to regulations will take sacrifice. I appluad his courage in sacrificing himself and his career to make things better for gay service members in the future, but he shouldn't be surprised.

[Marc NL]

08:56 PM on 07/25/2010

I don’t get all this talk about contracts, regulations, military code etc.

You do not discriminate based on Color
you do not discriminate based on religion
you do not discriminate based on gender
you do not discriminate based on age
you do not discriminate based on sexual preference

You simply do not discriminate. The U.S military should take care of the basics first and then worry about the details.

[Chico41]

11:37 AM on 07/27/2010

I hear the U.S. military still makes black soldiers ride at the back of the tanks too. Dispicable.....

But seriously, this is a complete joke. What year is this? How do they still get away with saying gay people aren't equal to straight people? What studies have they done to prove that homosexuals make worse soldiers than straight ones? The problem is not the sexual preference of the soldiers, but the homophobia of the aging commanders that should have retired when they reached 70 years of age, which was sometime around the end of the Vietnam war.

[manrock1]

08:46 PM on 07/24/2010

In order to justify civil disobedience three factors must be observed: 1)A certain determination that the govt. policy is morally unacceptable, 2)You must exhaust all means politically or legally to redress your greivance, and 3)You must be willing to accept all legal consequences of your disobediance. Choi meets 1@1/2 of these requirements. Consequently his behavior to this point is unethical.

[SPQR1052]

04:25 PM on 07/24/2010

this is truly a teaching moment because most people on this thread have never served and strong support CHOI.

Yet those of us who have served and DISAGREE with his protest are attacked , includling us GLBT veterans.

And it is really strange to have wingnuts agree with me.

As a former officer I stad by my original position - CHOI was wrong to protest while in uiform (reserve or active duty) and is fortunate he wasn't sent to military prision after a court martial.

[kiddub]

10:10 AM on 07/29/2010

True say.

[SPQR1052]

04:06 PM on 07/24/2010

O/T (but to a point)

Annually I winced at KTVK 's reportage of the annual GayPride festival in Phoenix. Well in truth it really did'nt matter which local affiliate station news coverage you watched they also featured the same visual - guys in drag and the most provocative costumes.Why? Becasue the MSM coverage is about ratings.

The final three years working for KTVK CNN i approached the the vice president of news and asked to produce the annual package (no pun intented) guess what ? I gae them substance and even history and requested my photographers and reporters remain focused on that narrative and they did until I left in 2000 and moved France.

The point is if there is a point MSM in general could careless about this or any gay related story - its ratings and scandal .... To the MSM and I know bcause I was part of (in closet ) gays at parties or prides are another circus. Sad but true. Those that are in power as journalist are too scared to challenge the stereotype . What some names?

Lt Choi and his crusade (which I as a former officer too think is wrong because he volunteered) is nothing but a news story . Heck they could careless (excluding Rachel)

I am sad for our country that in 1993 the federal government via laws sanctioned discrimination.

As a minorty I sensitive also because the gay community discriminates equally as bad as others.

Go ahead fire away.

[HallowedBeMyName]

01:06 PM on 07/24/2010

As much as I support Choi's cause, I must, as a former Army officer, take the following position. Choi appears not to understand how fortunate he is that the politics surrounding him have saved him from court-martial and certain conviction. Apparently he believes that being literally pardoned by being granted honorable discharge is "infuriating and painful" when compared to hard time at Leavenworth and a dishonorable discharge. I support the cause, but not Dan Choi - because he lacks the grace and wisdom to be thankful.

[SPQR1052]

04:15 PM on 07/24/2010

Thanks for pointing that out also.......

173rd ARM RECON CAV DAV
(cpt)

[ez duz it]

03:54 AM on 07/26/2010

You suggest that Lt. Choi should have served "hard time at Leavenworth and [suffer] a dishonorable discharge"? Why?

You say that, "that the politics surrounding him have saved him from court-martial and certain conviction." Where is your proof that his honorable discharge was motivated by political expedience? You have none, because there is none.

You say you’re a former Army officer, but because of the nature of Lt. Choi’s circumstances, his discharge was the result of an administrative process and his separation, - in conformance to law - was administrative, not punitive. “Punitive discharges are authorized punishments of courts-martial and can only be awarded as an approved court-martial sentence pursuant to a conviction for a violation of the UCMJ.”

With DADT in the foreground of national discourse, why would you, a self-proclaimed Army officer, articulate the distinction between administrative and punitive proceedings or separations in your comment?

Clearly, Lt. Choi wasn't even charged with such a punitive violation. While your suggestion that he be punitively and dishonorably separated from the military as well as imprisoned is certainly founded on your bias, it has no basis in military law.

Lt. Choi served honorably in the New York Army National Guard and was duly discharged as such.

He is an LGBT hero. He is opposing DADT, a law that discriminates against those in the military who are LGBT by forcing them into silence about themselves, families, loved ones and those they would choose to marry. I support him.

[HallowedBeMyName]

09:17 PM on 07/26/2010

I didn't even have to read your entire post. You can't protest politically in uniform, particularly by handcuffing yourself to the White House fence. You need to look at things more closely before you rant. "Self proclaimed" Army officer...BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHA

[HallowedBeMyName]

09:21 PM on 07/26/2010

BTW, you can start with Wiki to see that Dan Choi was set for trial and the charges were dropped. Shut your cakehole and get to researchin!

[Louisknyc]

10:50 AM on 07/24/2010

I'm still waiting for Obama to say something, anything about Choi. Yup. His silence is very telling. How long did it take him to talk about Sherrod?

[SPQR1052]

04:18 PM on 07/24/2010

Keeping waiting dude ---- If that happens he loose my money (max donations to his camapgin and DNC in 2008 ) and vote in 2012.

Ciao from Switzerland.

Ex Army and bisexual and dont' agreewith Choi. He's fortunate not to be in prision.

[Louisknyc]

07:41 AM on 07/25/2010

I'm not asking him to make a judgement. I'm asking him to take a stand, ANY stand. And if he doesn't he'll lose my monetary support.

The word is LOSE, not LOOSE.

[Ioan Lightoller]

10:05 AM on 07/25/2010

You will NOT be missed, SPQR,

[Dots]

09:45 AM on 07/24/2010

The news media are hardly covering this story in spite of the huge number of comments here.
Hmmmmmmm.

[SPQR1052]

04:18 PM on 07/24/2010

Only MSNBC but....Okay, pass.

[Louisknyc]

07:42 AM on 07/25/2010

The President hasn't even "covered" it . How long did it take him to respond about Sherrod?

[godwithin]

06:32 AM on 07/24/2010

I'm not one to want other people to suffer, kill and die for me, however, I feel a country which cannot keep personal prejudices from compromising national security is morally weak. Here you get to see courage, commitment and compassion from Lt. Dan Choi, who is forced to come into civilian life, while others are kept from their needed return into civilian life and forced into countless tours of deadly duty.
Carefully Taught/Children Will Listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o192z82ka-8

[GreenAmbition]

06:32 AM on 07/24/2010

There's a right way and a wrong way to demonstrate. Running around in uniform (which is TOTALLY against regulation) is not the right way to demonstrate against a policy that many both in and out of uniform disagree with including me.

Dan C. made a mockery out of the United States military and shame on him. He looked and sounded ridiculous; chaining himself to the white house's gates in uniform. You can't even go to the court house to pay a parking ticket in uniform.

[ez duz it]

10:39 AM on 07/26/2010

Hi, GreenAmbition:

You say Lt. Choi's wearing of the uniform "is TOTALLY against regulation."

Which regulation in the Uniform Code of Military Justice - UCMJ - are you saying he violated?

[TWW0108]

09:19 PM on 08/08/2010

You can go here to read the full text, but here's the snippet that clarifies.

http://www.sdmcp.org/Regs/Guidelines4Dissent.htm

3.5.6. Off-Post Demonstrations by Members. Members of the Armed
Forces are prohibited from participating in off-post demonstrations when they are
on-duty, in a foreign country, when their activities constitute a breach of law and
order, when violence is likely to result, or when they are in uniform in violation of
DoD Directive 1334.1 (reference (d)).

[Jared Watts]

05:59 AM on 07/24/2010

If you want to serve and are physically capable to do so, then you've met my requirements. Anything more than that only weakens us.

[azbird]

04:54 PM on 07/26/2010

Good for you. I just fanned you. I agree totally.

[SPQR1052]

05:20 AM on 07/24/2010

@ez duz it

Il tuo italain è molto cattivo e il tuo commento offensive. Tu sono un razzista, ma forse comprensibile. Il bianco è sempre corretto nella vostra comprensione sono sicuro, ma non nella mia. Choi è solo in questo per rendere la una lista di parti omosessuali e il tempo faccia della fotocamera. La sua condotta era conveniente di qualsiasi funzionario indipendentemente dal tuo punto di vista. Buona fortuna a base di carne sulla griglia.

Ciao from Lugano

[ez duz it]

03:49 PM on 07/24/2010

And you say my Italian's bad? First of all, it’s "italiano," not “italain.” Also, don't use the familiar form of address with me - I am not your friend, and do not care to be. Il vostro italiano è difettoso come il vostro commento è offensivo.

Second, you accuse me of being a racist? Please, dig up a fresh excuse for impugning anyone who calls you out your BS stories, poor Italian and homomiseism. I couldn't care less what color you - or anyone else - might be.

As for Choi, he is not a time-wasting photo-opportunist, as you suggest. He stood his ground against an unjust law. I hope the photos of his protest against DADT and arrest will become as iconic as those of the African-American civil rights movement.

I am proud of him.

Sfortuna alla griglia - Spero che la carne sia bruciata!

[SPQR1052]

04:13 PM on 07/24/2010

And then you woke -up ....

[Louisknyc]

11:04 AM on 07/25/2010

Good for you EZ. SPQR only supports issues of race.

[DrBlunt]

04:50 AM on 07/24/2010

Take The Test!... see where you stand!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/etc/quiz.html

[Ioan Lightoller]

07:07 AM on 07/25/2010

I rated High-level non-homophobic.

[DrBlunt]

04:00 PM on 07/25/2010

Any "High-Level Non-Homophobic" is a fan of mine! :-)

~ ~ ~ Fan 26 ~ ~ ~>

[DrBlunt]

04:36 AM on 07/24/2010

"Homophobia is apparently associated with homosexual arousal that the homophobic individual is either unaware of or denies."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8772014

[Ioan Lightoller]

11:26 PM on 07/26/2010

I have always found this correlation most interesting. Can any homohater give a rational explanation?