Lt. Dan Choi Declares War on Gay 'Elite'

Last week, Lt. Dan Choi--who has become a prominent face in the effort to repeal the military's anti-gay ban, Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)--chained himself to the fence in front of the White House following a rally at Freedom Plaza organized by the Human Rights Campaign.

While some denounced Choi's act of civil disobedience--the anti-gay fringe right claimed that it was emblematic of the "disruption" that openly gay troops would case among the ranks of America's military--others compared it to groups like the HRC itself, in terms not flattering to large, mainstream GLBT advocacy organizations. Blogger Rob Smith, writing at the Huffington Post, went so far as to deride the "gala fundraisers for the usual heterosexual celebrities who deign to be supportive of us," going on to note that, "I know that a lot of African-Americans don't like the comparison of the gay rights movement to the civil rights movement, but I happen to be Black and gay, so I'll say this: if the majority of the leaders who fought for my rights as a Black person were as complacent and easily placated as those who are allegedly fighting for my rights as a gay person, I would certainly not have had access to the opportunities and education that led me to this very point."

In an exclusive interview with Newsweek magazine, Choi, too, referenced earlier struggles for freedom and equality before the law, telling Newsweek that the shackles he was forced to wear in court were reminiscent of the psychological chains that he said DADT forces gay troops to carry. "Even my feet were shackled so I could only take small steps forward," said Choi. "To me that symbolizes what it is to live under Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the only law that enforces shame. Those chains symbolized how my country is trying to restrict my movement, how we are only allowed incremental, tiny steps."

When the interviewer pointed out that some politicians who are ostensibly on the side of GLBT Americans in terms of full legal parity have voiced skepticism about acts of civil disobedience at a time when gays are seemingly poised to make great strides forward, Choi responded, "Why not now?"

Continued the West Point graduate, an officer whose discharge under DADT is pending, "The movement seems to be centered around how to become an elite.... But this shouldn't be about which group has better branding." Choi added, "We are tired of being stereotyped as privileged, bourgeois elites." He also spoke of sacrifice--perhaps the most central concept to a career military man. "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?" Added Choi, "You know, the military puts the idea of sacrifice in your mind the very first day you join. We learned very quickly that someday we might be asked to sacrifice life, limb, comfort, and freedom. My soldier training has made me a better activist, and being a gay activist makes me a better soldier."

In a more pointed manner, Choi was openly critical of the HRC, citing the very rally that the organization had put together and questioning the choice of Kathy Griffin as a speaker at the rally. "If that's the best the lobbying groups and HRC can do, then I don't know how these powerful groups are supposed to represent our community," he told Newsweek. Choi also pointed out that he had invited Griffin and Joe Solmonese, the president of the HRC, to accompany him to the White House for his act of civil disobedience, in which he was joined by Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, who was discharged from the Army under DADT. "I feel so betrayed by them," Choi said of Griffin and Solmonese, who had initially indicated that they would go with Choi, but who then remained behind at Freedom Plaza.

Asked about his experiences in prison, where he, Pietrangelo, and another individual spent the night before appearing before a judge, Choi recounted that he was denied the opportunity to make a phone call or to speak with a lawyer. He also said that he was called "a liar" by one officer, but that others seemed more sympathetic and wanted to discuss the issue of service with him,

Now that he has seemingly marked out a new course for himself, though Choi seems determined to stay that course. "I have fully committed my life and all the sacrifices necessary to manifest equality and America's promises," he stated. "Like I said at court, 'I'm not guilty, I'm not ashamed, and I'm not finished.' "

Choi recounted to Newsweek that at a HRC dinner last year, President Obama invited the GLBT community to "put pressure" on him to ensure that he stayed on message and active in the cause of GLBT equality. Choi said that he is taking the president at his word, saying, "the president said to pressure him and I heard that as a warning order." Since Obama took office, GLBT leaders have grown increasingly impatient with the glacial pace of White House action regarding GLBT issues.

The HRC's leader himself spoke with EDGE last month about the Obama administration and GLBT America. Said Solmonese, "The president's tenure for our community has been marked by what I think are sweeping victories and unnecessary heartbreak. That's just the nature of this relationship. On any given day, it's going to be our sentiments are going to go from gratitude to frustration."