Gay soldier feels disappointed in queer community
- Renata Pereira, Pink News, March 24th, 2010
Waiting to stand trial for chaining himself to the White House gate, soldier Dan Choi has spoken out on his disappointment with gay community.
Iraq War veteran and gay activist Lt. Dan Choi was arrested on 18 March after he and a fellow soldier chained themselves to the White House gate, in protest of the US military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, which bans openly gay people from serving in the army.
Choi, who is due to stand trial on 26 April after pleading not guilty to the charge of failing to obey a lawful order, said of his actions: “Obama told us at the [Human Rights Campaign] dinner last year, ‘you need to put pressure on me.’
“I was there at that dinner, in uniform. So this is my mission; the president said to pressure him and I heard that as a warning order.”
Speaking to Newsweek on Monday, he went on to criticise the gay community’s commitment to the cause, declaring that many of their leaders seemed more concerned with achieving a high social status than making a difference.
“Is someone willing to give up their career, their relationships with powerful people, their Rolodex, or their parents’ love to stand up for who they are? I’m giving up my military rank, my unit – which to me is a family – my veterans’ benefits, my health care, so what are you willing to sacrifice?”
“Jesus up on the cross did not have a party with all his major donors to raise money for his cause, his cross was free. Gandhi did not need three-course dinners and a cocktail party to get his message out. These are people who sacrificed their lives. It was not the size of their distribution list, but their message that endured.”
Choi, who described the DADT policy as “the only law that enforces shame”, said his military training taught him about sacrificing himself for the greater good.
“I have fully committed my life and all the sacrifices necessary to manifest equality and America’s promises. Like I said at court (sic.), ‘I’m not guilty, I’m not ashamed, and I’m not finished.’”
