This week, after years of debate and debate and more debate, the military finally repealed its controversial "Don't Ask Don't Tell" ban on gays serving openly in its ranks. The repeal took effect Tuesday at 12:01am EDT. And with that, it looks like Dan Choi is re-enlisting: Dan Choi re-enlisting.For infantry officer Daniel Choi famously came out as a gay service member two years ago on the Rachel Maddow Show in protest of the policy. It eventually led to his discharge, but he quickly became something of a gay rights icon as one of those most outspoken activists against Don't Ask Don't Tell, even getting himself arrested in front of the White House.
Following Tuesday's repeal, Choi says he plans to go back to the U.S. Army:
Choi said that he had been unsure about whether he should reenlist but eventually concluded that it was important to show the seriousness of his actions. "Joining the military is never supposed to be a comfortable thing," Choi said.Dan Choi knows better than anyone that the repeal doesn't mean the end of discrimination within the U.S. military. And it definitely doesn't change a hell of a whole lot in the current Republican presidential field -- last night's GOP was clear evidence of that: Choi slams GOP crowd for booing gay soldier.
Choi is not yet sure what his role in the Army will be. His responsibilities will be determined "as they say, by 'the needs of the Army'," he told POLITICO. "No matter what you choose, even if you have a degree in Arabic. You do whatever the military wants you to do on a day-to-day basis."
Meanwhile, Choi says that although he is happy with the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell - after all, it allows him to reenlist - the victory is incomplete, something that he doesn't think is well understood.