Lt. Dan Choi Takes The Bourgeois Gay Movement And The Human Rights Campaign To Task

Lieutenant Dan Choi, discharge from the United States Army under the military’s policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” was arrested last week in an act of civil disobedience, along with former Army captain Jim Piertrangelo, the two men handcuffing themselves to the gate of the White House. The event was organized by GetEQUAL.org co-founder and head Robin McGehee, who was also arrested. The two men spent the night in jail, were arraigned the following day, when they both plead not guilty a charge of failing to obey a lawful order. Choi, an accidental activist, gives his first interview since the arrest, and addressed those critical of his defiance, saying “within the gay community so many leaders want acceptance from polite society. I think there’s been a betrayal of what is down inside of us in order to achieve what looks popular, what looks enviable. The movement seem to be centered around how to become elite. There is a deep schism (in the gay rights movement), everyone knows this. But this shouldn’t be about which group has better branding. There is a tremor right now in every gay and transgender youth that these groups are not grasping. I would say to them – you do not represent us if all you looking for is a ladder in to elite society.”

Choi also addressed the Human Rights Campaign’s puzzling decision to ask Kathy Griffin to be the spokesperson for the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” saying “I have great respect for her as an advocate. But if (the Human Rights Campaign) thinks that having a rally at Freedom Plaza with a comedienne is the right approach, I have to wonder. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is not a joking matter to me. To be at Freedom Plaza and not at the White House or Congress? Who are they trying to influence? I felt like they were just trying to speak to themselves. 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. Kathy Griffin and(HRC president) Jay Solmonese said they would march with me to the White House but didn’t. I feel so betrayed by them.”