It’s unclear whether Lt. Dan Choi and James Pietrangelo always planned to end their DADT hunger strike after seven days, or the pain behind their eyeballs became too much to bear, but we’re glad to see the soldiers-cum-activists choose their health over waiting for the White House. [LtDanChoi.com]
AndrewW
It is unfortunate that Dan Choi tried to appear crazier than GetEQUAL. That’s a real challenge, but after this mess – Choi wins.
Just like GetEQUAL these guys didn’t consider the consequences or put any planning into this publicity stunt. It’s like their “direct actions” are hatched over cocktails, or something. “Threatening suicide” will be hard to top. Please don’t try.
For Dan, Kip and Robin: I would like to suggest a “vow of silence” for your next stunt. Please.
Menlo
I’m glad the hunger strike er “fast” is over.
j
This whole thing did nothing but make dan look rediculous. Which is a shame because up until this point he’s had a really good rep. Hunger strike has worked in the past for activists, but only in dire political environments, riots and gunshots in the streets kind of stuff. We’re not in that climate and the vast majority of people (who aren’t goequal supporters) simply looked on in bewilderment and saw this as a completely unproportional and irrational, not to mention futile. It’s like wanting to protest climate change by hanging yourself. The whole thing was doa.
Mike
I was looking forward to more dramatic youtube videos. Now I’m sad. I was really digging his attention seeking and growing ego. I hope we won’t have to wait long for his next stunt.
Cam
My guess is, not pussy.
As for AndrewW, I’m starting to think that there is a something personal between you and Get Equal. You kept claiming previously that they were pissing off our friends and we would get nothing done this year because of them. The White House and HRC came out and said nothing would be done, but Nancy Pelosi, who’s office Get Equal closed down with a sit in, (One of our friends you claimed they were pissing off) put enough pressure on a DADT repeal that the White House was forced to come out and support it and HRC had to belatedly get on board. So again, you keep claiming that they look stupid, and are hurting us, but the very politician that they targeted (Pelosi) ended up being the reason this bill was pushed through.
whatever
maybe some dolsot bibimbap? I could go fer somma that.
LB
There is a joke about being fame-hungry here somewhere….
Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com
No one has to agree with all of Dan’s CHOICES, but it’s only fair to say that no one who’s unwilling to make the sacrifices he has, which include risking a federal prison sentence for not once but twice wearing his uniform while participating in a political AND illegal act, has a right to sit safely AND usually ANONYMOUSLY at their keyboards smearing him PERSONALLY….least of all “Andrew W” who not only refuses to identify himself while infesting the entire Internet like an atomic cockroach with his apparent single reason to live: attacking and LYING about Dan and GetEqual [remember when he claimed the White House/Lafayette Park protest that Howard Dean spoke at had been cancelled?]
If he invested ONE-TENTH of the time in attacking homophobes in and out of the Administration that he spends attacking other gays, maybe we’d get somewhere.
As long as there has been a public gay movement there have been jealous cockroaches attacking anyone who got media attention. Some people said the same thing about Harvey Milk….as well as he was wrong to be acting on his own without geting the blessing and permission of Gay Inc. then.
When Dan auditions for “Queer Eyed Soldier for the Straight Guy” or “Real Gay Linguists of New Jersey” or selling his own beefcake calendar….then people can bitch, and I do mean BITCH but only AFTER you’ve outed yourself on national TV, let alone gone to jail for ANYTHING other than for getting a DUI on the way home from the bar or creating a tooted-out disturbance on the dance floor at the last circuit party you went to.
While I think the DADT “compromise” is only a CHANCE for real change, we wouldn’t have gotten that had he and GetEqual not kick started the discussion while everyone in Gay Inc. who collectively are paid and spend MILLIONS of dollars a year still had their heads up Obama’s ass to one degree or another.
DADT repeal sponser and straight Army Vet Cong. Patrick Murphy’s opinion is good enough for me:
“Dan Choi is a hero.”
Aaron
What Will Dan Choi Eat First Now That the Hunger Strike Is Over?
A cock 🙂
nsomniac
When he started this it was already known it wouldn’t last. FAIL
jeffree
Dan Choi was right to abandon the failing strategy of fasting, rather than be a martyr. Surely there’s a better tactic he can try, one that relates more closely to the repeal of DADT ? Something other people can join in on or support?
Time to re-energize and re-strategize.
@AndrewW: Where are Jason_Activist and Justin_Activist?
Jason_Activist
Dan Choi quit. He is no longer leading activists. He’s done.
Who’s next?
Mark n Dallas
This “demanding” thing is crazy. Just crazy.
I know it takes more effort, but shouldn’t we be smart enough to get beyond this idea the we just have to demand our way to equality?
I have a family, a career and many relationships that are very important to me – I haven’t “demanded” since I was a child. Nobody cares about my demands and I don’t care about theirs. We all have to create our own lives and that isn’t accomplished by demands, but rather with thoughtful consideration, hard work and agreement.
I hope Choi grows from this. I hope he thinks about being effective and not just famous. He could persuade people with his personal experience, not by making demands.
Cassandra
AndrewW
“I would like to suggest a “vow of silence” for your next stunt. Please.”
You first. Show ’em how its done.
Do something.
jeffree
@Mark n Dallas: Well, Hello AndrewW! This “consensus” you keep claiming is more & more looking like a tea party.
The words “demanding” and “demand(s)” over the last 45 days on Queerty appears greater than 89% of the time in comments appearing by the following commenters:
–AndrewW
–Justin_Activist
–Jason_Activist
Important to notice that you did not engage with either of the “Activists” on the threads. That is very unlike you.
The word “stunt” or its plural is a key hallmark of your sock puppets, here and on at least 5 other blogs. The word “childish” is another dead give away. Only 4% of related Queerty posts in that time frame used those words.
Posters on Bilerico, as well as Cassandra, have recommended a “vow of silence”.
What does that tell you about the effectiveness of your cut-&-paste postings?
Jason_Activist
@jeffree: Chill dude – you are waaaay out there. Are you tripping? We all have our opinions and makeshitft methods. I don’t judge you. Do something that turns you on. I’m cool.
PeaceLuvDemanding
jeffree
@Jason_Activist: All I can say, is that I hope you and Justin_Activist are less disorientated after your modifed fast.
You two are ++so++ lucky that AndrewW didn’t argue with you guys !! He holds EXACTLY the opposite views from you two, so it would have been a blast to see you debating !
Keep “demanding.” Do let us know what your next strategy is so we can follow your progress in fighting for LGB rights.
Peace to you and Justin!
Pip
Sadly, I think Cho would’ve probably ended up dead if he waited for the DADT repeal.
DR (the real one, not the guy who made post #12)
As usual, lots of bitching and moaning… what have you done lately besides sit behind a computer complaining about what someone else is doing?
jeffree
Choi is a smart guy. What he was doing wasn’t produing results, so he’ll do something else. That’s sane. A definition of INSANITY is to keep doing the same thing over & over while expecting ++DIFFERENT++ results.
You know, like Big Gay Inc. does.
We need all the help we can get. Lobbyists have their place, so do activists, so do concerned friends & allies. We just cant lose sight of the bigger picture: a time when DOMA and DADT get overturned, ENDA is enacted, and Prop 8 gets overruled.
And, being selfish here, i look forward to the day when I can adopt a kid, as a single gay man or as a married guy. So I can repay the favor to the wonderful people who adopted me, and be as a good a parent, I hope, as each of them were. I have to finish school first, of course, & work full time — hopefully in a job where my sexual orientation isnt sufficient grounds to be fired.
Mark n Dallas
@jeffree: Dan Choi and his sponsors at getEQUAL just remind me of Westboro Baptist. I think they’re crazy fools trying to get attention.
jeffree
@Mark & AndrewW in Dallas: I provided an operational definition of insanity. What’s yours. You carefully sidestepped my premise. You have not refuted my argument.
When you have better ideas than Choi of how GLB rights should be secured, I’ll listen. I’ll join you, in fact.
Until then, you just confound the differences between meaningless static
& constructive criticism.
In the words of Channing Pollock, “A critic is a legless man who teaches running.”
Mark n Dallas
Insanity – same thing over and over again with the same results.
Choi and his GetEqual friends are trying to get attention – over and over – with NO results. They are being laughed at and ignored.
Just like Westboro Baptist they are only interested in pissing people off.
rrr
I’m glad Choi abandoned this plan. It could damage his health and it’s a bad fit to the repeal process reality. I appreciate his passion and excellent intentions, but I also appreciate his willingness to strategically withdraw here.