“As far as I know, I haven’t been notified of my discharge except by the Gay City News,” Dan Choi said yesterday of his formal honorable discharge from the Army National Guard. “Obviously, I expected it to happen.” Today, he’s well aware.
Though he was discharged as of June 29 — notified via phone message and certified mail (sent to his address of record, and signed by a person with Choi’s surname), claims Lieutenant Colonel Paul A. Fanning of the National Guard in New York — Choi says he only learned of his discharge today: “I got a call about five minutes ago, and my commander said he wanted me to hear it directly from him. He was very supportive and said, ‘I know this was something you didn’t want to hear.’ I said to him, ‘Thank you for your leadership.’ He’s been nothing but supportive of me throughout this whole journey.”
Does that end the controversy about whether Choi knowingly wore his uniform in public — on MSNBC, at public rallies, to court, but not in Las Vegas where he was arrested — in between June 29 and now? Participating “in political activities in uniform … may violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” relays GCN’s Duncan Osborne, as it’s “a violation of federal law for a person who is not in the military to wear a military uniform.”
There goes my “Slutty Solder” Halloween costume idea.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Dawson
I don’t think they really want to try to persecute this man for any reason. Their best strategy is to keep him as far away from the spotlight as possible. So, if they decide to press charges against him its going to help to piss off a lot more people.
Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com
I’d expect more of Queerty than to help Osborne grind his obvious axe about Dan Choi as they conflate two different sets of circumstances and two different bodies of “law.”
Let’s begin with the facts:
1. Contrary to Osborne’s idiocy, it is NOT “a violation of federal law for a person who is not in the military to wear a military uniform.” Officially retired military CAN legally wear theirs anytime they wish.
2. The even steamier horseshit stupidity that Osborne dumped is that Dan knew it was illegal for him to wear his uniform at political events such as the NEM, let alone while getting arrested, WHEN HE WAS STILL IN THE MILITARY….and, more importantly, under UCMJ jurisdiction.
There were lots of complaints about that from brainwashed vets at the time. That’s what makes Osborne’s intention to attempt to smear Dan by stopping just short of calling him a liar about not having known he was discharged so obvious. Does Queerty seriously want to play that slimy game, too?
BOTTOMLINE: Dan Choi remains a hero while Osborne is an ill-informed scum bag for trying to attack his credibility even as Obama shitcans yet another gay vet and Arabic linguist.
Pathetic.
Mike
If you’re no longer in the Military, surely you can’t be subject to Military Law, hence whatever Dan Choi does in (or out) of uniform is not an issue for the USMil ?
Scott NYC
Dan,
It’s not a surprise anymore. It’s over. The National Guard has discharged you. Think of something else to do. Move on.
You keep trying to turn this into some crazy dramatic victim story – it isn’t. Thousands have been discharged. Deal with it.
Work to change the law – you’re not in the National Guard anymore. Figure out how to change minds and end this law. Don’t flash your uniform, figure out how to make a difference, not another photo op.
The Law retired you. Retire the Law.
National Guardian
Enough, already. Dan Choi is just one of thousands of stories about people being thrown out of the military for being gay. Choi left the military in 2008 – on his own. He re-enlisted in the NY National Guard a year later and began to make his being “gay” an issue. It’s all calculated to make him a “victim.” he isn’t. He did this.
I feel bad for the real heroes in the military that fight for our country – not those that quit. Choi quit. Now, he wants to generate sympathy. Sorry, I’m not buying it.
This seems to be another part of GetEQUAL that is just sickening. Choi has been “played” in an attempt to create a story that can promote GetEQUAL and their crazy stunts.
I’m ashamed.
WalkderDC
@National Guardian:
”
“Enough, already. Dan Choi is just one of thousands of stories about people being thrown out of the military for being gay. Choi left the military in 2008 – on his own. He re-enlisted in the NY National Guard a year later and began to make his being “gay” an issue. It’s all calculated to make him a “victim.” he isn’t. He did this.”
You’re right, kind of like all those people born black in the 1800’s had themselves born that way to make themselves victims. Just like all those women in Afghanistan purposely arranged to be born women so they could cry victim over their treatment. And just like Constance McMillian was purposely born a lesbian so she could claim to be a victim 18 years later when she wasn’t allowed to go to her prom.
What you leave out of your statement is that Choi wouldn’t have been able to be labeled a victim if the military didn’t victimize him and other gays.
w kersh
@WalkderDC:
The military does not victimize anyone. Joining is voluntary and everyone who joins has to make sacrifices to exist in its environment, gay or straight. Why is it that homosexuals seem to think that everybody must change to suit their desires. If a person wants to be in the military then join and accept the rules and regs that are in place when you joined like everyone else. Otherwise if being “yourself” is more important and any job opportunity doesn’t support that, military or not, choose not to do it. And don’t disgrace the uniform by protesting in front of the White house in uniform. That just goes to show those who make these decisions are not heros but one’s who are looking for trouble. The military requires loyalty to stay a force of protection. It is not for political statements. So if anyone chooses to protest something do it in civilian clothing. I don’t appreciate homosexuality but I am actually more upset that someone would protest like he did in uniform and being an officer at that. It is disgraceful.
Pip
I don’t expect the military to itself abolish the DADT policy, or turn things around without the Commander in Chief and Congress, but we need protesters like Dan Choi.