It's time for Obama to step up to the plate

I'm absolutely disgusted to hear about the firing of Lt. Dan Choi. In March, the West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show and openly admitted that he's gay. As a result, on April 23rd he received a letter from the Army discharging him from service due to a violation of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Thus far, Obama has refused requests to intervene on Choi's behalf. This clip from Jon Stewart's Daily Show shows the ridiculous nature of this policy.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Dan Choi Is Gay
thedailyshow.com
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The U.S. government is willing to make all kinds of compromises in the interest of national security: torture, warrantless wire tapping, the surveillance of individuals' use of public libraries, etc. All of these other things are permissible because they, supposedly, stand to help improve national security. However, the government is not willing to "compromise" the nation by allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military. What makes this decision even more egregious is the fact that Choi is a much-sought-after Arabic translator. Choi's is only the latest in a lone line of such firings. Let's hope he will be the last member of the military to receive such a letter under the Obama administration.

The Courage Campaign has started a petition asking President Obama to stand behind the promise he made while on the campaign trail: to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Please sign the petition urging the President to follow through on that promise. This policy of federally endorsed homophobia must end both for the sake of equality AND national security.