our military loses another brave patriot

Pam's House Blend:: Lt Dan Choi's statement on his discharge

dan's statement:

My Statement on DADT Discharge

This morning I received notification of my honorable discharge from the army under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." After 11 years since beginning my journey at West Point and after 17 months of serving openly as an infantry officer this is both an infuriating and painful announcement.

But my service continues. To all those veterans who have endured similar trials and injustices or prematurely ended their military service because of the unjust policy: our fight has only begun.

The true honor and dignity of service does not come from a piece of paper, a pension or paycheck, a rank or status; only an unflinching commitment to improve the lives of others can determine the nature of one's service. From the first moment we put on our nation's uniform and swore our solemn oath, we committed ourselves to fight for freedom and justice; to defend our constitution and put the needs of others before our own. This is not an oath that I intend to abandon. Doing so at such a time, or remaining silent when our family and community members are fired or punished for who they truly are would be an unequivocal moral dereliction that tarnishes the honor of the uniform and insults the meaning of America.

Lt. Dan Choi

our time is now...

ok, i promise this isn't going to become a "big gay blog". pam spaulding and joe.my.god and so many others do it so much better than i ever could.

that said, the issue of glbt equality is very personal for me and i would be remiss if i didn't jump into the fray while "we" are in the limelight. who knew that glbt-related issues would be vying for equal coverage (at least in the progressive blogodrome) with O's first SCOTUS nominee.

i realized just how much coverage glbt issues were getting today, when i made my daily foray into the land of huffington (not to mention my subsequent foray to the "big orange monster", aka Daily Kos). following are linky's to the articles "all things gay" from the front page and the politics page...keep in mind, this is JUST TODAY, just huffpost:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/noel-alumit/the-solace-that-gay-marri_b_208335.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alec-baldwin/why-childless-straight-co_b_208457.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/28/david-hyde-pierce-on-his_n_208636.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/28/wanda-sykes-mocks-medias_n_208489.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-prom-queen28-2009may28,0,2700821.story

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-sauer/until-gays-can-marry-im-u_b_208694.html

http://http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/28/noms-latest-gay-marriage_n_208687.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/28/obama-protested-in-beverl_n_208509.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-simmons/it-is-not-a-matter-of-if_b_208351.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/roy-sekoff-talks-prop-8-a_b_208363.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-thomas/the-big-gay-chip-on-my-sh_b_208183.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-dolby/even-after-proposition-8_b_208384.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gregory/america-2009-hand-sanitiz_b_208365.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-rowe/no-more-mr-nice-gay_b_208345.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carlos-watson/how-the-prop-8-ruling-wil_b_208095.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/byron-williams/california-supreme-court_b_208737.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/28/episcopal-church-ousts-61_n_208571.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/28/noms-latest-gay-marriage_n_208687.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/28/lt-dan-choi-the-boots-tha_n_208653.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pam-spaulding/the-complex-questions-abo_b_208566.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/blaise-zerega/lessig-to-overturn-prop8_b_207837.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earnest-harris/prop-8-defeat-shatters-my_b_208270.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-garry-/time-for-a-double-take-te_b_208188.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-j-davis/stunning----though-not-sh_b_208231.html


thanks, dan choi, for putting a face on so many of the issues of importance to the glbt community in addition to your valor in standing up to dadt!