Following Tuesday's end of “Don't
Ask, Don't Tell” Dan Choi says he'll re-enlist in the U.S. Army.
Choi is the gay rights activist
honorably discharged from the Army for announcing nearly two years
ago on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show that he's gay, a
violation of the military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy which
banned open gay service. He lost a final appeal of his discharge in
July.
“Going back to the military will be a
vindication,” Choi told POLITICO.
“[I'm] going back because I fought to go back. The seriousness of
our claims was not just political theater – it was really drawn
from our lives. I sacrificed so much so I could go back.”
During a brief period in October during
which the military was ordered by a federal judge to suspend
enforcement of the policy, Choi attempted to rejoin the Army.
Over the past year, Choi has grabbed
headlines protesting the policy. He was twice arrested after
handcuffing himself to the White Hate gate. And he was among a
handful of protesters arrested for blocking traffic on the Las Vegas
strip with a large banner that read: “REID NO ONE CAN DO MORE?” a
reference to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The West Point graduate added that
repeal would not necessarily lead to acceptance in the military.
“People who believe that
discrimination is somehow all erased will have a rude awakening,”
Choi said.