A SALUTE TO ASIAN LT. DAN CHOI OF THE US ARMY

Shared by the blogsite owner, RICHJUNE

at Friday, April 02, 2010

''We may have been caged up physically but the message was very clear to all of the people who think that equality can be purchased with a donation or a cocktail party,'' said Choi, whose protest has been met with accolades as well as criticism.

Lt. Dan Choi, alongside Capt. James Pietrangelo, speaks outside the D.C. Superior Court after he and Pietrangelo pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to obey a lawful order by chaining themselves to the White House fence.

SPEAKING DURING THE MARCH AGAINST THE DADT POLICY OF THE USA

After an enthusiastic rally featuring a speech from My Life on the D-List star Griffin, Choi took the stage to encourage the crowd to join him in a march to the White House. Once there, Choi and veteran James Pietrangelo chained themselves to the White House fence. Both were arrested.

Korean, Asian and gay lieutenant Danny Choi (A West Point Graduate) has this to say about the anti-gay stance of the US Army:

"I've talked about values and made that my foundation, and if it wasn't for those values I don't think I would have had as much energy to do all these things. But when I talk about integrity or refusing to hide or refusing to lie, they're obviously meant as a simple message to all these people, that this is what we stand for. I didn't realize that some people would take offense to that because for those who are not ready to come out, they feel that I'm calling them a liar or somebody that doesn't have courage. And although I've never done that, I realized that this is true of any community -- they look at those who are willing to push out of the closet or push harder and maybe faster and stronger than they would be willing to. They look at that and there's this threat that they feel.

And I just want to let them know that I am compassionate about their situation, and I'm not in the business of outing anybody. I'm not in the business of saying that they're lesser people because of that. But when they realize that being truthful and risking all of these things is more important than rank and pension and benefits, they can join also. I'm speaking for them, because we all believe those things.

I think the most disgusting thing about our movement is that at one point it was called the gay liberation movement. Of course, it was important at that time because that was really what was needed -- pointing out that there was oppression and liberation. But it's disgusting to me now because if all we are about is liberating ourselves or our own freedoms or our own rights, I have a hard time relating with that. I know people are going to disagree with me when I say that I don't think of it in terms of a rights movement, I think of it in terms of a responsibility movement.

When you talk about coming out, how dare you think that you come out just for yourself? You come out because there's somebody else who needs you to come out, and it's your responsibility to do that. Because there's some kid who may be told by someone you know, ''Don't worry, I have a gay friend.'' You could be saving somebody's life, right there in your own home, in your own community, in your own backyard. That's why it's important, not for our own individual rights or for our taxpayer equity or our return on investment or our victimhood. Those are all important, but the most important thing has to be that we have a responsibility for all those other people. And we can't be afraid, we can't shy away from making that our message."

Lt. Daniel Choi -- West Point grad, Arabic linguist, platoon leader, Iraq War veteran -- isn't the first soldier to be targeted by the military's ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy. When Choi came out as gay in the aftermath of California's Proposition 8, which repealed marriage equality in his home state, he became the latest in a long line of soldiers who have been told they cannot serve their country because they chose to tell the truth.

But while he may be one of thousands, Choi has quickly become a central media figure in the battle over DADT, a battle that's grown more intense as President Barack Obama continues to pledge to end the policy while the LGBT community chafes at awaiting a sign that an actual repeal of the policy is more than just a promise."

Don't ask, don't tell Policy of the USA:CHRONOLOGY

In 1992, President Clinton suspended the military's policy that barred gay, lesbian and bisexual people from serving.

Congress passed "don't ask, don't tell" in 1993.

The law says Gays, Lesbians and Bisexual members are allowed to serve the US Army unless they:
-- Make a statement of their sexuality , publicly or even to family and friends (and are later turned in)
-- Attempt to marry a person of the same sex
-- Get caught engaging in a homosexual act

In 2005, a bill was introduced in the House to repeal DADT. The bill did not make it out of committee.

In 2008, more than 100 retired generals and admirals called for a DADT repeal. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has called for a review of the policy.

During the 2008 presidential election, then-candidate Barack Obama promised to end DADT.

Military statistics indicate that from 1997 to 2008, more than 10,500 service members have been discharged under the policy.

Service members Legal Defense Network, an organization providing legal help, says more than 13,000 GLB members have been discharged since 1994, ONE OF THEM IS LT. DANIEL CHOI.