Former American soldier Jason Knight, who was booted under Don't Ask, Don't Tell, submitted this video to CNN's Situation Room asking Pelosi what she intends to do about the discriminatory policy.

In an effort to build his case, Knight reminds Pelosi that she defended lesbian lawmaker Tammy Baldwin's right to bring her lover on Congressional trips. Why, then, can't she stand up for gay military men and women?

Pelosi appears on the show tonight, so she has some time to think of a measured - and hopefully progressive - response.

It's never too early to get excited about the Out 100, gay glossy Out's annual celebration of the year's great, gay people, places and things. Well, actually just people.

The mag's tight-lipped about the honorees, but their celebratory blog posted this picture of 2007's "Rabble-rousers". We don't know how they did it, but the Out staffers and photographer François Rousseau managed to get Joe Solmonese and Lane Hudson in the same frame. The men, of course, worked together at Human Rights Campaign until Hudson outed Mark Foley and subsequently left the powerful non-profit. Also pictured: gay soldier Jason Knight and ACLU's leader Anthony Romero.

In other Out 100 news, we hear that honoree Darryl Stephens will finally acknowledged his homo inclinations. This will be the first time the Noah's Arc actor publicly "comes out".

As if we didn't know…

General Peter Pace garnered gay ink yet again yesterday. The outgoing Joint Chiefs Chairman faced off against Senator Tom Harkin, who blasted the general's March remarks: "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral".

During a Congressional hearing this week, Harkin called Pace's comments "hurtful" and gave the military man some time to clear his anti-gay name. Though he maintained homosexuality's so-called immorality, Pace did concede that gay men and women serve integral roles in our military. "Are there wonderful Americans who happen to be homosexual serving in the military? Yes."

CONTINUED »

The fagalas over at Out have been hard at work compiling a list of today's gay movers and shakers.

While they're tight lipped about who made this year's Out 100, we hear the fag rag's end-of-the-year issue will feature a shot of HRC president Joe Solmonese, free speech defender Anthony Romero of the ACLU, Lane Hudson and twice booted soldier Jason Knight.

Things may get a little awkward for Hudson and Solmonese. Hudson worked for HRC before outing Mark Foley, a move that cost both men their jobs.

The Pentagon may be changing their tune on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The Defense Department's Cynthia O. Smith released a statement saying that though they've been booted from the service, gay patriots can still help defend the nation.

[Gays and lesbians] have the opportunity to continue to serve their nation and national security by putting their abilities to use by way of civilian employment with other Federal agencies, the Department of Defense, or in the private sector, such as with a government contractor.

Gay defender defenders Servicemembers Legal Defense Network points out that this statement's the first time The Department of Defense has invited queers to help fight America's so-called good fight.

CONTINUED »

The United States Navy just can't get it straight. First they discharge Jason Knight for being gay, then they inadvertently invite him back, then they boot him again, leave open the chance for Reserve work and now they've banned for the "final" time! Stars and Stripes reports:

Navy officials said Friday that a third set of discharge papers — this time noting “homosexual conduct” and barring any recall to service — have been issued for Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Knight.

Though privacy rules forbid the Navy from releasing the documents, officials said a recall code of RE-4 was listed and that the papers effectively end any possibility of future service.

As of Friday, Knight said he had not received the DD-214 discharge papers, but was not surprised they were reissued.

That poor fucking kid. All he wants is to serve his country and his country keeps playing with his emotions. We guess all really is fair in love and war…

Jason Knight's on again, off again affair with the Navy seems to be on again.

Knight got the boot after coming out in 2004, but mysteriously invited him back, despite Don't Ask, Don't Tell's prohibition on the pansies. Following Knight's telling interview with Stars & Stripes, officials sacked him once again. Now, they've changed their military mind.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network explains:

Former Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Knight, a Hebrew linguist recently deployed to Kuwait, has been placed on Individual Ready Reserve duty until April 2009, despite publicly ‘coming out’ in national media outlets and being told he would receive a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” dismissal.

His dismissal form, however, declares "completion of service," not a 'Don't Ask' related retirement, thus making him eligible for IRR. Knight remarked of his reentry:

I was expecting to be dismissed under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ but am ready, willing and able to continue my service to the Navy if I am needed. My sexual orientation has never been an issue for my command or my colleagues; it should not be an issue for my country, either.

Well said, Mr. Knight. Now go on out there and protect us. We'll hold down the fort…

Talk about deja vu. Jason Knight has again been discharged for speaking out about his sexuality. Knight first got the boot back in 2004, but a clerical error led to his proud reenlistment. A true patriot, Knight refused to keep mum on his gay ways and spoke to both Stars and Stripes and Pam Spaulding about being a gay serviceman. Well, it seems navy officials weren't down with his big mouth:

The United States Navy has informed Petty Officer Second Class Jason Knight that it intends to fire him under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law… [Knight] was notified yesterday that he will be receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy based, in part, on his recent media interviews. Knight was scheduled to end his commitment on May 28, 2007, but will face early dismissal because he chose to go public about his experience.

Of his second discharge, Knight - a trained Hebrew linguist - remarked:

I have now spent five years in the Navy, and I have loved every minute of it. It is unfortunate that in our country, which prides itself on being a beacon of liberty to the world, discrimination is still alive and well, even in our own government. I am proud to be among the one million gay veterans who have answered the call to duty, and I look forward to working alongside them to topple this un-American and counter-productive law.

Sounds like we haven't heard the last of young, heroic Knight…