Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Officer Discharged From The Army After Saying He’s Gay
Posted by: Nikki Dowling
Filed in:
news
1:50PM, Wednesday July 1st 2009
Dan Choi is a lieutenant in the U.S. Army who graduated from West Point. He served in Iraq, is willing to go back, and is an Arabic language specialist. Sounds good, right? Well, apparently Choi is not good enough for the military, because after he admitted he was gay on the “Rachel Maddow Show” on March 19th, the army sent him a letter, officially discharging him. According to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy,” which Obama has vowed to change, admitting that you are gay “constitutes homosexual conduct.” The army accused Choi of “moral or professional dereliction.” Choi plans to fight the decision and a campaign has already been launched to help him out. [MSNBC]
Earlier this year, a woman violated “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and she was also discharged from the military. She wrote a letter to Obama asking him to reverse the policy. Recently, she got a handwritten note from the prez, promising to work on this whack policy. However, Obamzies thinks the whole thing could take a while because it needs Congressional approval.
Watch Dan Choi on “Rachel Maddow” last night and tell us what you think about his whole situation.
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Simcha Whitehill
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 02:03 pm: [report]
we should call the person that discharged him Major #&@$%
lostrun
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 02:06 pm: [report]
Sadly, this doesn’t surprise me. The Army preaches they are a family, but once someone does not conform to their morals, you’re gone. I speak directly from experience as I was an Army Officer too until a few weeks ago. Soldiers sacrifice so much of their life that it truly is uncomprehensible that some are not able to live their personal lives the way they wish (within in the laws obviously). I have served with Soldiers who were gay, and it really made no difference what they sexual preference was b/c all that really matters is the job. To me as a leader, as long as the Soldier wasn’t breaking the law and doing their job, it didn’t matter if they slept w/ someone of the same gender. I truly do hope President Obama does something to “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
VsegdaOdna
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 02:08 pm: [report]
As much as I dont like it, he did violate policy and knew the consequences. Hopefully though, because of this, he made one of the first steps to getting the policy changed.
sstephs
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 02:28 pm: [report]
discrimination at it’s finest. To be honest though, if I were a lesbian I would not want to fight for my country until I had ALL the rights of an American citizen. Why fight for a country that won’t fight for you?
PinkRanger
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 02:56 pm: [report]
It infuriates me that the military has a history of looking the other way when it comes to misogyny, and has helped cover up rape allegations *from female soldiers AND civilians overseas* , but god forbid that a good, hardworking, and qualified soldier have an “untraditional” lifestyle. Makes me sick. We need military reform. Now.
abbylyn
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 03:11 pm: [report]
It breaks my heart that this is STILL an issue.
Sonic
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 03:16 pm: [report]
I really don’t get the whole “he DID violate a policy” idea. Miscegenation was illegal once. Oh noez, interracial couples who got married should have known better! They should have WAITED until enough people cared enough to change and then gotten married. It’s just that that would have taken forever. There’s no other way to draw attention to these stupid policies and laws unless someone brings public attention to it by showing everyone how ridiculous it is.
So it was policy. It was an unfair, biased policy and it deserved to be violated.
sailor_girl
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 03:44 pm: [report]
Discrimination has and will always be apart of military life. The fact is that a good majority of the highest ranking officials are white males. You should hear what is said about high ranking women. It truly is sad but nothing is going to change if we give up. The more diverse the military becomes the more apt it is to change. It angers me when someone says that would never serve because the military doesn’t support their lifestyle..truth is its not about you, if you join the military with an “its all about me” attitude you have no business being in.
lostrun
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 07:09 pm: [report]
Sailor_girl is right. Hopefully, when the young leaders today become the senior officers they will help change the culture. And for some, they join to be a part of something bigger than themselves, regardless if it conflicts w/ their own personal choices.
fallonthecity
wrote on July 1 2009 @ 08:03 pm: [report]
The military is just shooting itself in the foot with this. Sending skilled officers home because they’re gay? It’s so ridiculous I can’t fathom it.
That said, I remember a story from an old Navy vet about some guy who told everyone he was gay, then the next morning he was nowhere to be found on the ship. True? Don’t know. But whoo buddy.
Jamie Lee
wrote on July 2 2009 @ 07:20 am: [report]
i was an arabic linguist in the navy, and i personally saw quite a few people that had to leave the military due to their sexual preference. Its unfortunate that in a community that desperately needs people with the skillset to learn a very difficult language and apply it to very difficult missions, that people are getting tossed aside for basically just being themselves. The military prides itself on honesty and courage and brotherhood/sisterhood. For example the Navy core values that are drilled into you since day 1 are honor, courage and committment…how do you except someone to be the best sailor they can be when they aren’t allowed to step up and be who they are, so basically they have to lie to everyone around them. Its so unfair and hurtful. This is such an outdated policy and it needs to be reversed immediately. And for those people who say that its for the protection of the servicemembers…well if someone needs to “protect” me from another servicemember, well that person obviously doesn’t need to be in the service at all, good riddance. Live and let live people!!
wild-ting
wrote on July 2 2009 @ 07:39 am: [report]
Oh dear gawd! The man has skills! Skills that we need. He WANTS to serve his country for all the right reasons. WTF!
Please please change or abolish this stupid-ass law quickly!!
@Jamie Lee kudos with all the you said.
Jamie Lee
wrote on July 2 2009 @ 08:08 am: [report]
i sincerely hope that when this policy is reversed, that all of those who were forced out of the military unfairly due to it, have the opportunity to return to their previous post or an equivalent assignment, if they choose to do so.
resullins
wrote on July 2 2009 @ 11:27 am: [report]
I have to agree with Sonic. If everyone chooses to just follow the rules and not rebel, we’d still be ruled by the British, women wouldn’t have the right to vote, and there would still be slaves. The only way to make yourself heard sometimes is to scream at the top of your lungs, and that’s what this guy is doing. I’m proud of him.
I’m also a little upset that our dear President hasn’t even said anything about this when one of his major platforms was to repeal this ruling. I know he has to have the House agree, but it’s Obama leading a Dem. Majority House… it could be done! It should be done.