Lt. Dan Choi, one of the most ardent critics of the Army's "don't ask, don't tell" policy prohibiting the openly gay and lesbian from serving in the military, will join the more than 12,500 gay Army personnel let go from the Army since the policy took effect. Choi, a West Point graduate fluent in Arabic, publicly came out of the closet last year on The Rachel Maddow Show, and Army officials commenced discharge proceedings shortly thereafter. His honorable discharge took effect in late June. In a statement, Choi said: "This is both an infuriating and painful announcement...But my service continues. ... Remaining silent when our family and community members are fired or punished for who they truly are would be an unequivocal moral dereliction that tarnishes the honor of the uniform and insults the meaning of America." In March he was arrested after handcuffing himself to a White House fence while protesting the practice.
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