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Dan Choi On DADT: 'There's No Need For A Survey' (VIDEO)
First Lieutenant Dan Choi, Iraqi War Veteran and gay rights activist.
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Lt. Dan Choi, who came out on Rachel Maddow's show 16 months ago in violation of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, appeared again last night to talk about his life after the military honorably discharged him yesterday afternoon. But he also took a few minutes to talk about the Pentagon's recent survey of service members' feelings about how the potential repeal of DADT and, like many, he's not a fan.
He told Maddow:
I've been serving openly in my infantry unit. There's been nothing but positive impact. There's no reason for anybody to be afraid. There's no need for a survey, there's no need for a poll, there's no need for people to put up shower curtains because they're afraid of what might happen. I've been serving for 17 months quite openly, and I've seen nothing but positive impact when you tell people around you, people who you work with, the truth about who you are. There's nothing but an increase in unit cohesion, in team work, in trust. Honesty is the fabric, the foundation of all of that.
Choi says that, if the DADT repeal is enacted, he would consider re-enlisting. Yesterday was the first day, since the age of 18, that he was a civilian.
Watch below:
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misterxroboto
July 23, 2010 10:50 AM
As Lt. Choi is an officer, he cannot re-enlist, he can re-commission.
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Signalman
July 23, 2010 11:31 AM
Actually, in Army terms, he'd voluntarily extend his term of service. Once commissioned, officers don't have to 're-commission' or anything like that.
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LadyBlahBlah
July 23, 2010 11:50 AM
It is unfortunate that Choi was discharged, but he asked for it. DADT is the law. It was the law when he came out on Rachel Maddow. Despite his oath, he chose to ignore the law. And not every gay man or woman has Choi's access to the public sphere and media. They need protection from homophobes.
I am glad he has has a good experience for 17 months while out. He needs to look beyond himself and ask how others live. That is what should be surveyed. How to gays in the military live.
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