Military Chucks Iraq War Veteran Dan Choi for being Gay

by copythat

The gay lieutenant, Lt. Dan Choi, has been dismissed as a United States soldier by the Pentagon--while the national battle rages to overturn the military's widely-criticized “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" (DADT) law and policy.

Dan Choi, both an Iraq war veteran and a West Point graduate, is outraged over the “Honorable Discharge” he’s received. The lieutenant has served as Infantry Platoon Leader in Iraq during 2006 and 2007.

"After 11 years since beginning my journey at West Point, and after 17 months of serving openly [gay] as an infantry officer, this is both an infuriating and painful announcement," says military officer Dan Choi.

"It hurts [military dismissal], but then you remember what your service [to the United States] really meant," says the now-former Lieutenant. "Wearing the [U.S. military] uniform is not about symbols or rank. It's about fighting for freedom and justice.”

Seems the United States has forgotten about that real meaning.

"It's the absolute duty of my life to fight this,” says Choi, who has been removed solely pertaining to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

Choi is an Army reservist and belongs to the New York National Guard—the officer has been fighting the military’s efforts to discharge him from service, the battle beginning after he formally announced his sexual orientation on MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show”.

Choi was recently arrested during peaceful protest, after chaining himself to White House gates—protesting the 17-year-old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that has effectively forced more than 12,500 soldiers from the military and service.

President Obama and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates both support repeal of the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law and military policy, which allows gay men and women to serve in the military—but only as long as sexuality or sexual orientation remains secret and hidden.