Specifically, have you shown a little love for Dan Choi or Sandy Tsao?
Both are doing what few Asian Americans ever do: Stand up to the institutional hypocrisy in America.
Lt. Dan Choi and 2nd Lt. Sandy Tsao could make history, if they are the first to break the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” charade.
The policy makes sexual orientation irrelevant in the military, until it’s spoken. A mere verbal admission of one’s homosexuality is considered a sexual act and grounds for dismissal.
Choi, 28, is a West Point grad, trained in Arabic and until recently a valued member of the New York National Guard. But when he admitted being gay on a national cable show, the Army has now moved for his discharge.
His service was never in question. But his homosexuality is. In fact, in reports Choi admits to being a bad homosexual claiming zero sexual relations with men or women, for that matter, while in the Army. It was only when he recently fell in love with another man that he decided that coming out was the morally right thing to do.
Because President Obama has strongly opposed DADT in public, Choi is hoping the president will take up his cause. It takes both bodies of Congress and the president to change the policy, which seems unlikely. But Choi is hoping people see through the hypocrisy and join his petition drive:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/dontfiredan
Choi actually is the second Asian American in recent weeks to come forward.
2nd Lt. Sandy Tsao, an army officer in St. Louis, disclosed her homosexuality and actually wrote to President Obama. The president wrote her back.
“It is because of outstanding Americans like you that I committed to changing our current policy,” Obama’ wrote. “Although it will take some time to complete (partly because it needs congressional action) I intend to fulfill my commitment!”
It could be an empty promise for Tsao, discharged officially May 19.