By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON D.C., United States – Another chapter was added to the struggle over the ongoing effort to repeal the United States military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy yesterday. The policy bars United States homosexual soldiers from serving openly while on duty. Lieutenant Daniel Choi and Captain Jim Pietrangelo were arrested in front of the White House after chaining themselves to the White House fence in protest of the policy.

Both Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo are openly gay soldiers serving in the United States Army.  As a leader in the fight to overturn the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, Lt. Choi has become an outspoken activist for a quick repeal of the law.  Lt. Choi is a 2003 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.  He also is a veteran of the Iraq war.  Lt. Choi is one of the few Army soldiers who is an Arab languages expert.  During an appearance on a newscast he stated that he was gay.  This occurred while Lt. Choi was serving in the New York National Guard. His announcement led the Army to begin discharge proceedings against him.  Pietrangelo is a former captain in the United States Army.  Capt. Pietrangelo also is in a fight with the Army over discharge proceedings based on his homosexuality.

To heighten their protest of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo rallied with other opponents of the policy in front of the White House.  Dressed military fatigues, Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo decided to chain themselves to the fence surrounding the law of the White House.  Police gave them three warnings to stop protesting and to unchain themselves from the fence before they were arrested.  They were charged with failing to obey a lawful order.  The protestors did not have a permit for their demonstration.

Over the last few months, Congress and President Obama have begun to reassess the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.  The policy’s repeal is supported by President Obama and some leaders in the military.  Other military leaders support the idea of repeal but believe that the repeal process should be slow and deliberate.  Lt. Choi previously stated that the repeal process is moving too slow and favors a quick repeal.  Lt. Choi stated, “but we learned this week that the president is still not fully committed” to ending the policy.

For more information, please see:

Newsweek – Lt. Dan Choi to See Judge Today, One Day After Handcuffing Himself to White House Gate – 19 March 2010

Washington Post – Two gay men arrested in White House protest – 19 March 2010

CBS – Lt. Dan Choi Arrested at White House During Gay Rights Rally – 18 March 2010

NY Daily News – NYer Dan Choi, Iraq war vet, held after chaining himself to White House to protest policy on gays – 18 March 2010