Gay soldier discharged from New York paramilitary
July 24th, 2010 - 3:02 pm ICT by IANS
New York, July 24 (IANS) A soldier who made an open announcement that he was gay has been discharged from a paramilitary force in New York.
The New York Army National Guard honourably discharged Lt. Dan Choi under the “don’t’ ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibits the military from asking about the sexual orientation of personnel but requires discharge of those who acknowledge being gay or are discovered to be engaging in homosexual activity, Fox News reported.
Choi, who is openly gay and made the announcement a year ago on a television programme, has said the move was “infuriating and painful”.
“It shows how ancient that thinking is. Homosexual is such a weird word to use. It’s archaic,” Choi said Friday.
The soldier, who served 11 years on active duty, was waiting for military officials to decide whether he would be discharged.
Earlier this year, Choi had chained himself to a fence outside the White House in protest of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and demanded that President Barack Obama should end the policy.
“The uniform stands for one thing: freedom. It’s a rule that is immoral. It’s the responsibility of moral people to stand up to immoral laws,” he said.
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Tags: 11 years, active duty, army national guard, barack obama, fence, fox news, freedom, gay soldier, homosexual activity, immoral laws, lt, military officials, new york army national guard, paramilitary force, protest, sexual orientation, television programme, weird word, white house, york army
