Dan Choi Returned to Active Duty

[Lord Helmet]

edited for LINK



Dan Choi Returned to Active Duty
By Michelle Garcia

Gay military rights advocate Lt. Dan Choi has been reportedly called back into active duty. Photographer Jeff Sheng, who recently turned his lens on active gay and lesbian service members, confirmed the news in a blog posting on Bilerico.com.

Choi was to appear at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change conference but could not attend due to his being called to serve.

Sheng wrote on Bilerico.com that despite Choi facing an Army committee recommending he be discharged under "don't ask, don't tell," his commanding officer was highly supportive of the Arabic translator and West Point graduate.

[asdjrocky]

1. A token?

Wonder if a token is good enough for the GLBT community.

I'd be interested to hear what they think.

[jefferson_dem]

3. Nice.

Not really.

Choi is no token. He deserves his position, as do others who have been or would be dismissed.

[Cha]

4. The gears on in process and you're

stuck on "token".

[jefferson_dem]

6. That's the shittiest comment i've seen on DU in a while.

Wonder if he would call Choi a token to his face.

[asdjrocky]

10. Sure I would.

So would my gay nephew who was asked politely to leave the armed services. He. Loved. His. Job.

Choi himself, who I respect, would be the first to say it's not enough.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

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[Lyric]

50. Well, no. He actually disparaged the reinstatement of Choi as a token.

A token gesture, that is. I'm GLBT and I "got" his point without a problem. He wasn't trivializing Choi's value as a person--he was (rightfully) questioning whether or not this was just another token gesture to appease the gays from a government that really doesn't care much about us. There are a hell of a lot of people in the GLBT community who, while happy for Choi *personally*, are also wondering the same thing about the intent behind the gesture.

:shrug:

[Uzybone]

51. Read the posts before you knee jerk defend

the poster explicitly said he/she would call Dan Choi a token to his face.

Your point is very valid, but the other posters point is an insult.

[asdjrocky]

52. Thank you.

You're are right on. We are beyond token gesture. I'm not even part of the community other than being a supporter, but I'd like to see more.

[grantcart]

46. Obama is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't

For these guys the issue is irrelevent to the core motivation, i.e. tacking another whack at Obama.

[JVS]

49. Not really. He's praised if he does, damned if he doesn't, but to count as done it must be thorough

[William769]

62. I'll keep whacking him in the head till he fucking gets it right!

Civil rights is a no brainier for anyone, well anyone that has an ounce of intelligence in them. :eyes:

[struggle4progress]

11. IIRC, much is currently left to the discretion of the commander:

see comments by Aubrey Sarvis of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network here:

KPBS: Should Congress Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”? By Maureen Cavanaugh, Josette Herdell
These Days | Tuesday, September 1, 2009
http://www.sldn.org/news/archives/kpbs-should-congress-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell/

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

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[vaberella]

34. It's too bad my post was removed it...it was deserved considering your post.

This is definitely not something to be marginalized and mocked as you did.

[Name removed]

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[liquid diamond]

54. Damn son.

Way to shit on a great moment of progress.

[Cha]

2. This is great news for our country!

You forgot your link, Helmut.:)

[Lord Helmet]

5. got it --- thanks!

[onehandle]

7. Wonderful! nt

[alsame]

8. Great news! nt

[progressoid]

9. I heard an analyst predict this.

Not Choi specifically but he expects the Military to gradually stop enforcing DADT.

[Cha]

12. And then get it officially

declared over?

[progressoid]

16. Hopefully.

Whether Congress repeals a law is far from certain - a House bill lacks enough votes, the Senate had not even introduced a bill. So, in the meantime, Defense Secretary Gates says the Pentagon will make it harder to kick out someone who is gay. He says the military will raise the bar in what information is needed to launch an investigation.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123287733

[Cha]

23. Thanks..sounds like the important people are

the ones who want this repealed and they will do it one way or another in spite of the ugly assholes.

[Jennicut]

30. A House bill lacks votes? Arggg.

The public wants it repealed but the House lacks votes. Typical of our Congress.

[vaberella]

37. Exactly, but there are people blaming our President for the Congress holdup.

That's why it should be put in the defense bill and moved along. Because this Congress is overall, shit.

[Jennicut]

39. LOL. I need to make that my motto to everything.

"This Congress is overall, shit." You said it!

[vaberella]

40. LOL! I'll be DU famous! n/t

[vaberella]

20. Well when you have the head of the military already going forward saying...

it goes against his personal beliefs and the integrity of the institution...I doubt it will last long. But I also think this has a lot to do with what Obama spoke about in press conferences and meetings nad what not. It's taking seed and going forth.

[vaberella]

13. I was wondering about this. I guess this answers my question to those previously fired.

Everyone would be called back to duty then. Great...While there are many people who are saying that the Obama admin is not doing anything. I guess this would prove otherwise.

[stray cat]

14. Good to have him back on active duty!

[vaberella]

17. I hope to see him on Rachel Maddow's show. n/t

[lunatica]

48. I'm definitely watching Rachel's show tonight

Of course, I definitely watch it every week night as soon as I get home.

[CitizenLeft]

15. awesome!

Good for him! Very glad to hear it!

[jenmito]

19. K&R! I hope Rachel talks about this tonight on her show. n/t

[vaberella]

21. Bah, you said what I said. ^_^ n/t

[jenmito]

22. After I said it, I looked and saw you said the same thing. GMTA! :)

[vaberella]

26. I checked the time...I said it first. :P....We're silly. This is great news.

Party!! :grouphug:

Jen...do you think this means that all people previously fired from DADT will be reinstated?! I'm just wondering. I figured this is what it means.

[jenmito]

31. I know, I know...

but I didn't SEE your post at the time. :) It IS great news-and I HOPE it means they'll all be reinstated. His was a well-documented case thanks to Rachel's show. From an article posted here weeks ago, I assume the military will stop enforcing the policy until it is repealed. But I don't think this is a way to stall ending DADT. Since Obama just touted how they've begun working on ending DADT, I think it will end in less time than a year, but until then, they can at least stop enforcing it.

[vaberella]

33. Hmmm...I agree. The other officer that's on Rachel's show.

His case seems to be in permenant limbo and I don't think he'll be fired as part of DADT. I wonder if the other female officer who wrote to Obama will be reinstated soon too. Now I'm a bit too excited. But I agree with you 100%.

[PHIMG]

24. Estactic for him personally but concerned...

Is this just an attempt to marginalize a voice for a full repeal so that Obama and company can slow walk this until there is a new Republican administration?

I sure hope not!

[vaberella]

28. Huh..that's a way of looking at it. I saw it only as enforcing Obama's push for repeal.n/t

[PHIMG]

35. I think you can go either way.

I hope they get it into the war authorization bill.

[vaberella]

38. I thought it was the defense bill. I could be wrong. But whatever bill, I agree. n/t

[PHIMG]

41. Yes "Defense Authorization Bill"

I think they need to go back to "Dept. of War"

[Cha]

55. Paranoia runs deep.

[rocktivity]

25. CUE THE VONAGE THEME!

and he'd better give Rachel Maddow the exclusive!

:woohoo:
rocktivity

[Bolo Boffin]

27. Yay!

You go, Dan Choi. Go defend the rights of the people who hate gays in the military. That's what America is all about.

[SeattleGirl]

29. Um, he would also be defending the rights of people who DON'T

hate gays in the military (and not in the military).

Or are you saying that he should pick and choose which people should get rights? Wouldn't that be acting exactly like those who are working against him?

[vaberella]

36. I think you're reading way way way too much into what Bolo is saying.

Bolo, I believe, is being ironic. When Choi joined the army he's defending bth people who hate gays and people who don't. He's defending the American citizens. And yet, there are people in America who would take him dieing while forcing him to lie about who he is. So he's risking his life to defend many of the same people who would won't defend his right to live his life as he pleases.

[Bolo Boffin]

57. I think what I'm saying is pretty damned clear.

I'm happy he's in the military protecting the rights of people that hate him being in there. Any attempt to change what I'm saying into something else is silly.

[Kind of Blue]

42. I'm so happy for him! I love that guy.

Thank you for posting!
KnR

[Number23]

43. What the hell is with the comments in this thread?

So Choi is a "token" or even worse, participating in the subjugation of other gays in the military?

Why can't we take this for what it is - an important first (or fifteenth) step in the repeal of DADT under the Obama administration?

P.S. Dan Choi is the cutest thing. I could just eat him up. Gorgeous skin.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

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[Lord Helmet]

59. I am very happy for Dan because he really wanted to remain in the military.

I suspect other moves are being made discretely to remedy the travesty of DADT. I wouldn't be surprised to start reading other stories of careers being reinstated. It's the right thing to do.

[FreeState]

60. He has not been kicked out - and he has not been re-enlisted or called for anything

this whole thread is a bunch of bunk...


http://www.towleroad.com/2010/02/clarification-on-lt-dan-chois-return-to-service-with-national-guard.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Daily++%23gay+news%29

Here's some clarification I received from Sue Fulton, Communications Director at Knights Out, the LGBT organization formed by Lt. Dan Choi, on yesterday's news that he's serving again.

Writes Sue:

"Dan is a member of the New York National Guard. He appeared at a hearing where a board recommended he be discharged. That recommendation requires review and approval at higher levels. Dan's discharge has never been finalized. After his board recommended discharge, Dan was not included in regular drill... until recently. This past week, his commander — who has always been supportive of Dan — contacted him to rejoin his unit in weekend drill. This is not the same as 'active duty' — National Guard units CAN be activated, or called to active duty, but Dan's unit has not. This is not a change in Army policy, nor any action from 'higher headquarters' that we are aware of. I would view it as a recognition by his unit that Dan's discharge may, after all, NOT be confirmed by the Army. That said, Dan's unit welcomed him back, and he spent a very full weekend practicing Infantry tactics and lifesaving procedures with them. Dan has never lost the respect of his fellow Soldiers, even as an out Gay man, and he will continue to do his job as an Infantry officer for as long as he is allowed."

And Dan Choi himself writes: "I was never fully discharged and have been substituting drills because of my schedule of lobbying and pushing for repeal. I attended national guard duty this past weekend beacuse we needed to train on critical skills for a possible upcoming deployment. My discharge is still pending, but I have returned to work - and there are no instances of decreased good order or discipline. I sleep in an open bay with little privacy. No issues. Good to be back with my unit! - although I can still be fired at any moment for DADT."

[Lord Helmet]

61. Your attitude toward this is truly puzzling.

[FreeState]

63. Thats not me speaking - thats a quote from Choi himself at that link

Dan Choi himself writes: "I was never fully discharged and have been substituting drills because of my schedule of lobbying and pushing for repeal. I attended national guard duty this past weekend beacuse we needed to train on critical skills for a possible upcoming deployment. My discharge is still pending, but I have returned to work - and there are no instances of decreased good order or discipline. I sleep in an open bay with little privacy. No issues. Good to be back with my unit! - although I can still be fired at any moment for DADT."

[Lord Helmet]

64. Interestingly, The Advocate changed the title of this piece since I posted it.

from "Dan Choi Returned to Active Duty" -- to -- "Dan Choi Back on Drill Duty"

LINK

[FreeState]

65. They changed it late yesterday - google still has both titles and links (original titles in URL).

I wish they did a better job at correcting themselves. I fear everyone is so anxious for movement here that any sign is taken as movement - were here I think Choi and his direct commander are the ones making movement not the military, unfortunately.

[ruggerson]

45. This thread is wildly ironic n/t

[donheld]

56. You need to splain

[EFerrari]

58. LOL. Yes, it is.

What do you think about this, ruggerson?

[BreweryYardRat]

66. Very good news.

Now, let's get DADT repealed.

[BreweryYardRat]

67. Oops, duplicate post.

Mods, please delete.