Today when Lt. Dan Choi walked into the United States District Court to face trial for speaking out against the now repealed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” legislation, he walked with the same perseverance and dignity as he did the day he was arrested for protesting in front of the White House.
DETAILS: DISGRACE Lt. Dan Choi Kicked Out Of Army For Being Gay
“I’m going in with my head held high,” Choi said.
And even after facing scrutiny for coming out at a time when it was virtually unheard of for military members to step forward, he remains calm, collected and positive that the outcome will be in his favor.
The timing is fitting. Just this week, the Supreme Court listened to arguments on whether to lift California’s gay marriage ban (Proposition 8) and the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). And though the outcome remains unclear, it speaks volumes about where this country is headed.
Ironically, for Choi, he is still battling the ghost of DADT’s past. He faces some harsh consequences for speaking out, but his activism to battle the military’s systematic homophobia led to the demise of DADT and a ripple effect that has reached worlds beyond LGBT military personnel.
“I spent the past two years preparing myself mentally, spiritually, and physically for this day. No matter what the verdict is, this case is bigger than me,” he told GlobalGrind.
“It’s about freedom of speech and the dignity of gay soldiers and future generations that serve. This is a great day for me, but most importantly, it’s a great day for our movement.”
Join us in standing beside Choi, the Iraq War veteran who refused to stay silent and was discharged due to homophobia, as he faces America for what he believes in.
You can ask your congressman to support Choi, or run down to the District Court in Washington D.C. to join Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton, as well as a handful of speakers, to offer your support for Choi.
BLOG: Lt. Dan Choi Responds To Obama’s Desire To Repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’
While Choi has afforded others to serve openly in the military, we need to stop the persecution he faces for the crime of being gay.
Which as we know…is not a crime at all.
Tweeting about the trial? Use #Fail2Obey
