Masochist
03-19-2010, 06:46
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/03/18/2010-03-18_nyer_dan_choi_iraq_war_vet_held_after_chaining_ himself_to_white_house_to_protest.html
NYer Dan Choi, Iraq war vet, held after chaining himself to White House to protest policy on gays
BY Barry Paddock
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, March 18th 2010, 6:21 PM
An Iraq war vet who the Pentagon wants to boot because he's gay, was arrested by the U.S. Park Police Thursday after chaining himself to the White House fence.
Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point grad who's challenging the attempt to oust him from the New York National Guard, was nabbed along with Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, a gay soldier from Vermont, who has his own legal fight.
The two were charged with failure to obey a lawful order.
Dessed in military fatigues, the men were surrounded by protesters chanting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Has Got To Go."
They blame President Obama for not moving faster to fulfill his promise to overturn the ban that allows gays and lesbians to serve - as long as they keep their sexual orientation a secret.
Before their civil disobedience at the White House, the two spoke at a rally of about a thousand supporters at Freedom Plaza organized by the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group.
"You've been told that the White House has a plan," said Choi, an Arab language expert whose skills are desperately needed by the military.
"But we learned this week that the president is still not fully committed."
Comedian Kathy Griffin, in town to lobby lawmakers to repeal the ban, also spoke at the rally -- and later praised Choi.
"It was my honor (to) share the podium (with) Lt. Dan Choi today. I understand he's been arrested in front of the White House. I dig that dude!" she tweeted.
Choi, who lives in New York, is the grand marshal of the city's Gay Pride march on June 27.
bpaddock@nydailynews.com
NYer Dan Choi, Iraq war vet, held after chaining himself to White House to protest policy on gays
BY Barry Paddock
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, March 18th 2010, 6:21 PM
An Iraq war vet who the Pentagon wants to boot because he's gay, was arrested by the U.S. Park Police Thursday after chaining himself to the White House fence.
Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point grad who's challenging the attempt to oust him from the New York National Guard, was nabbed along with Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, a gay soldier from Vermont, who has his own legal fight.
The two were charged with failure to obey a lawful order.
Dessed in military fatigues, the men were surrounded by protesters chanting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Has Got To Go."
They blame President Obama for not moving faster to fulfill his promise to overturn the ban that allows gays and lesbians to serve - as long as they keep their sexual orientation a secret.
Before their civil disobedience at the White House, the two spoke at a rally of about a thousand supporters at Freedom Plaza organized by the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group.
"You've been told that the White House has a plan," said Choi, an Arab language expert whose skills are desperately needed by the military.
"But we learned this week that the president is still not fully committed."
Comedian Kathy Griffin, in town to lobby lawmakers to repeal the ban, also spoke at the rally -- and later praised Choi.
"It was my honor (to) share the podium (with) Lt. Dan Choi today. I understand he's been arrested in front of the White House. I dig that dude!" she tweeted.
Choi, who lives in New York, is the grand marshal of the city's Gay Pride march on June 27.
bpaddock@nydailynews.com