Dan Choi

Text

Born in Orange County, California, in 1981, Dan Choi grew up in a Korean-American family with a strong Christian faith. After graduating from high school, Choi enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he studied Arabic and environmental engineering. 

Choi graduated from West Point in 2003 and then served as an infantry officer in Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division in 2006. In 2007, he transferred to the New York Army National Guard where he served in Manhattan's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry. 

Inspired to come out as gay publicly on the Rachel Maddow Show in 2009, Choi was discharged from the Army National Guard because he was in violation of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that stated that gay and lesbian service members could serve only if they did not publicy declare their sexual orientation.

In response, Choi became an activist. He wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress which challenged the morality and sustainability of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Despite raising awareness and garnering much popular support, Choi's discharge was finalized in 2010. 

Choi's discharge continued to foment controversy. His knowledge and skills as an Arabic and Farsi linguist during an extended Middle Eastern conflict were highly valued, and it was reported that more than 59 gay Arabic linguists and nine gay Farsi linguists were discharged between 2004 and 2009. 

Choi's activism continued in 2010, resulting in his arrest after he and other discharged military officer, Captain Jim Pietrangelo, handcuffed themselves to a White House fence. Although Choi was confvicted of a "Failure to Obey Lawful Order" misdemeanor charge, his activism, and that of others like him, ultimately contributed to the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in December 2010.