Iraq War veteran Dan Choi, who was famously discharged from the US Military for being gay under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, made his way to a Military recruitment center in NYC, NY yesterday and today to reenlist in the US Military now that a federal judge has struck down the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy as unconstitutional. Under the judge’s order, US Military recruitment centers have been ordered to accept applications from gays who wish to enlist in the US Armed Forces. Choi shared his reenlistment attempt on his official Twitter profile, complete with a photo of his written application … which you can see and read here:
I’m headed to the Times Square Recruiting Station. / I’m gonna try to enlist in the Marines today. Anyone else can meet me at NYC Times Sq now. / Walking through Chelsea about to enlist; reminded of our beautiful diversity. This is what makes America worth defending. / In the recruiting station. Apparently I’m too old for the Marines! Just filled out the Army application. / In the recruiting station again, about to take the skills test for the army. / Refusing to lie on my army application! / Missed 3 verbal and 5 math questions. I passed!
Now, just because the US Military has been ordered to accept applications from openly gay people who wish to enlist in the Armed Forces now does NOT mean that they will be allowed to actually serve … but I have every hope that they will. The ruling that struck down DADT as unconstitutional is currently under appeal and it could be reversed … but you must applaud brave people like Dan Choi for working so tirelessly for the rights of gays to serve openly in the US Military if they so desire. In case you can’t read it in the photo above, here is Choi‘s open statement about his homosexuality on his US Military recruitment application:
I was discharged in 7/2010 from the US Army because I told the truth about my sexual orientation and refused to lie about my cherished lover and partner. I do not intend to lie about my identity for family in any portion of my service.
The days of treating the GLBT community as second-class citizens will, one day, be over … this is just another step toward that important goal.
[Source]
Lt Dan: You Go Girl!
Maybe I’m just clueless, but I don’t see why someone should be prevented from serving their country because of who they are attracted to/ dating. I guess I still live in my own little naive world where sexual orientation is the furthest thing from importance. I’m very happy Lt. Dan Choi is continuing to fight for equality; hopefully his actions will truly make a change for the better.
@Ali_Di—it would be a better world if more people thought like this. I do hope this isn’t reversed. There is no reason why sexual orientation should prevent someone from serving.
Progress is very exciting!
@Ali_di – I couldn’t agree with you more. It doesn’t make sense on any level. A person should not be prevented from doing anything they choose to do because of their colour, sexual orientation or religion. The fact that this kind of bullshit discrimination is going on in a country like the United States is disgusting. Another reason I am proud to be Canadian.
I was asked to give my opinion on gay adoption in my debate class last week, and I replied that one day in ten or twenty years or so we will look back on this history the same way we look at apartheid and segregation now.
“Wasn’t it AWFUL that people weren’t allowed the same rights just because of their skin colour.”
No one would dream of telling a black person they can’t adopt, or can’t fight in the army, or can’t get married anymore: but they used to.
“Wasn’t it AWFUL that people weren’t allowed the same rights just because of their sexuality.” < I look forward to this day.
Lt. Dan Choi! You are a HERO! You have my support 100% – your bravery, persistence and intelligence is admirable.