Dan Choi has been Discharged

Interesting news... Gay City News reports:

Choi lost his battle with the Pentagon on June 29 when his discharge from the Army under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was finalized. While Choi’s National Guard unit informed him by registered mail and with phone messages, he has not disclosed the action.

He did not respond to an email seeking comment. Generally, Choi’s protests and media appearances have been well received in the gay and lesbian community, though there are some voices, notably Bil Browning at the Bilerico Project, that have questioned the effectiveness of his advocacy.

When the May hunger strike that Choi and Pietrangelo began and ended in seven days without achieving any of its goals, Browning posted a piece on bilerico.com titled “Choi's Hunger Strike Lite: Now With More Calories,” writing, “With all of Choi's recent actions, tons of media appearances, chaining himself to the White House fence and this hunger strike, many in the community think Choi’s gone off the deep end. They say this has become more about his ego than a smart strategy to repeal DADT quickly.”

Choi has made a number of appearances at explicitly political events in his uniform. That may violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He attended his July 14 court date in uniform, and that may violate federal law as he is no longer entitled to wear it following his discharge. Any legal issues aside, some in the military and some veterans are offended by those who wear the uniform while engaging in politics.

“There are a lot of gay servicemembers who are a little concerned that this kind of activity could cast them in a negative light,” said Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a think tank at the University of California that studies Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. “Others believe that the community has to do what it takes to end discrimination.”