TAKE ACTION: Ask military not to discharge Lt. Dan Choi under DADT

Comment

Comment by Dallas the Phallus on July 16, 2009 at 8:29am

@SmilingEyes: Yes, it is a self-contradictory policy. We'll kick you out because if we didn't, someone could expose you and black mail you in order to prevent us from kicking you out. Yeah, makes a lot of sense! But does the arguements people make to justify discrimination ever make sense?

Thanks for signing the petition, but it is now over. They've already started the process to discharge him.

Comment by Dallas the Phallus on July 1, 2009 at 4:09pm

I've got some bad news.

After 10 years of service to our country -- including leading combat patrols, rebuilding schools and translating Arabic in Iraq for 15 months -- the Federal Recognition Board issued its recommendation on Tuesday that I be discharged from the Army for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

The board's decision to fire me is not the end. Now that this panel of four officers has recommended my discharge, it still must be approved by senior officials in the Army, a process that could take a few weeks to a year. Unless something unexpected happens, it may be just a matter of time before the Army officially fires me.

I will not give up, no matter the odds. Because I know that the only way we will win this fight to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is by facing it head on. And I need your help again to keep up the fight.

I've made my case to President Obama -- supported by more than 140,000 of your signatures. I've made my case to the Army -- supported by more than 160,000 of your signatures. And I will continue to make my case until they fire me for good.

Now we need to make our case to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Will you join me in asking Speaker Pelosi to strongly support legislation currently in Congress that would repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? Please sign on to our letter before July 4th and I'll personally deliver your signatures to the Speaker ASAP:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/RepealDADT

At West Point, I recited the Cadet Prayer every Sunday. It taught me to "choose the harder right over the easier wrong" and to "never be content with a half truth when the whole can be won." The Cadet Honor Code demanded truthfulness and honesty. It imposed a zero-tolerance policy against deception, or hiding behind comfort.

That's why I can't give up now. I've got to keep fighting. My fellow servicemembers -- and the 70 fellow West Point graduates who have also come out of the closet to join Knights Out, the organization I co-founded to push for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- would expect nothing less.

The only way we can win this fight for the truth is if the political cost of discrimination eventually becomes too great for the system to operate successfully. We need to raise the political cost in Congress so that Speaker Nancy Pelosi understands that, as Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall once said, "justice too long delayed is justice denied."

Speaker Pelosi needs to make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a priority now and come out strongly in support of legislative action to repeal this discriminatory law. Will you stand by my side now and sign our letter to the Speaker before July 4th? You have my word that I will deliver your signatures to Speaker Pelosi personally:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/RepealDADT

As I said a few days ago, national security means many things, but the thing that makes us secure in our nation and homes is love. What makes me a better soldier, leader, Christian and human being is love. And I'm not going to hide my love.

Love is worth it.

Thank you for your support.

Daniel W. Choi
1LT, IN
New York Army National Guard

Comment by Dallas the Phallus on June 29, 2009 at 12:50pm

On Friday, we sent you the following message from Dan Choi, a native of California and an Army Lieutenant facing trial on Tuesday for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

With just hours left until Lt. Choi's trial, an amazing 91,147 people -- including you -- have signed the letter of support linked below asking the Army not to fire Lt. Choi.

It's important that Lt. Choi walks into the courtroom on Tuesday holding as many letters of support as possible. Can you help us gather more than 100,000 signatures for Lt. Choi by forwarding this email to your friends today?

http://www.couragecampaign.org/SupportDan

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign

Comment by Jim DePaulo on June 27, 2009 at 8:08pm

@Dallas
That's great! Great gesture, great image. He puts his cards right on the table - good for him.

Comment by Dallas the Phallus on June 27, 2009 at 7:46pm

@ Carver

Lt. Dan Choi Takes "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Directly to Obama

Comment by Jim DePaulo on June 26, 2009 at 6:48pm

@ Dallas
I wonder if they could cc: the petition to the WH - couldn't hurt and it might help.

Comment by Dallas the Phallus on June 26, 2009 at 5:18pm

@SGecko: Hmm...very likely. Hadn't thought of it like that. This is so ridiculous.

Comment by Gecko, Seth...brother of Richie! on June 26, 2009 at 5:12pm

They are gonna make an example of him. We need presidential leadership on this issue.

Comment by Dallas the Phallus on June 26, 2009 at 4:53pm

Thank you Carver. We probably can't win this one, as the military will have to follow the law, and DADT is the law. However, we can send a clear signal that we think it stinks.

Comment by Jim DePaulo on June 26, 2009 at 4:34pm

Thanks for this posting. I've signed the petition and forwarded the letter to sympathtic friends and family.