Arabic Linguist.
Iraq Veteran.
West Point Graduate.
Infantry Officer.

Gay... Fired... and Re-Enlisting!

---

Lieutenant Dan Choi Talks Army Reservist Who Spoke At Ron Paul Rally

CNN – Jan 6, 2011

This morning on Early Start with Ashleigh Banfield & Zoraida Sambolin, Lieutenant Dan Choi discusses whether or not Corporal Jesse Thorsen breached military protocol when he spoke at a Ron Paul rally in uniform.

Choi says, "When you do something like this and you believe that it’s a moral cause you’re speaking for, then you should be ready for the consequences... We are responsible for all of our actions." He continues, "And the distinction here that I think people should realize is our military is very different from the militaries around the world in Syria or Egypt. There’s a certain political candidate that, you know, the military officers and people will get behind and that’s wrong. That’s not what we do. I’ve never endorsed a political candidate and I’m not even in a political party."

---

Lt. Choi speaks up for Danny Chen & Bradley Manning

The outrageous treatment of Pfc. Bradley Manning, and the tragic murder of Pvt. Danny Chen remind our entire nation: we’ve ignored the leadership crisis afflicting our military. When leaders ignore foundational values, and sweep crimes under the rug, we betray America and spit on our soldier’s sacrifice.

I stand with all soldiers unjustly treated. These times are a wake-up call for every American.

Read More...

Related Video

Iraq Combat Veteran Dan Choi Forcibly Ousted, Barred From Ft. Meade
Lt Dan Choi Thrown Out Of Bradley Manning Courtroom In Handcuffs & Injured By Military Police

Rally at Ft. Meade Saturday December 17

---

Lt. Dan Choi speaks at Occupy Wall Street Los Angeles

Lt. Dan Choi addresses the General Assembly at Occupy Wall Street Los Angeles.

---

Gay Ex-Soldier, Advocate Says He’ll Re-Enlist

By Jessica Gresko, Associated Press – Oct 7, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) - A gay West Point graduate who was discharged from the Army for revealing his sexual orientation says he has begun the process of re-enlisting now that the "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy has been repealed.

Dan Choi said Friday he began the process of re-enlisting in New York on Sept. 22, two days after the end of the policy.

Since being discharged in 2010, Choi has spoken out against the policy and been arrested outside the White House during three "don’t ask, don’t tell" protests.

He was in Washington for a hearing in a case stemming from one of those arrests and says he’s uncertain how it may affect his re-enlistment.

---

Gay Former Army Lt. Has Trial Put On Hold In DC

By Jessica Gresko, Associated Press – Aug 31, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — A gay former Army lieutenant who handcuffed himself to the White House fence to protest the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy may be closer to having charges against him dismissed after a judge put his trial on hold Wednesday.

Dan Choi, a West Point graduate who was dismissed from the Army after revealing that he is gay, has been on trial in federal court in Washington since Monday. A government prosecutor says he failed to obey an order to leave the White House in November 2010 when he and 12 others handcuffed themselves to the fence.

Police eventually removed the protesters using bolt cutters. If convicted Choi faces a fine and up to six months in jail. Choi and his attorneys claim he is being harshly prosecuted because he is gay and outspoken. They want the charge against him dismissed.

The protest was not Choi’s first time at the White House. He was also arrested in March and April 2010 for similar protests. In those instances, however, government attorneys brought charges against him in local court where he would not have faced jail time. They then decided not to go forward with the cases.

On Wednesday, the judge presiding over the current case said he believes Choi has shown, at least preliminarily, that he is being treated differently because of the subject of his protests: "don’t ask, don’t tell." President Barack Obama put an end to the policy in July. As of Sept. 20, gay service members will be able to acknowledge their sexual orientation openly.

Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola said the testimony presented at trial suggested that "the nature of his speech or what he said," meant Choi was prosecuted differently, according to a transcript of the proceedings.

As a result of Facciola’s statements, an attorney for the government, Angela George, said she planned to have the judge’s actions reviewed by higher authorities, and Facciola put the trial on hold for 10 days. In papers filed with the court, George says Choi was treated no differently than other similar protesters.

One of Choi’s attorneys, Robert Feldman, said he believed that the judge’s comments Wednesday mean his client has "effectively won the case" and that the charges against him will ultimately be dismissed.

Twelve other demonstrators arrested with Choi previously accepted a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to plead guilty in federal court but serve no jail time if they were not re-arrested within four months. Choi rejected a similar plea deal prosecutors offered Friday.