Dan Choi's speech at the Kathy Griffin rally today

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Where is Lt. Dan Choi?

UPDATE: Dan's representative just called the DC Central Cellblock, where Dan and James are being held. I'm told it's a nasty place. They report that they're not giving Dan a phone call. So he doesn't get bail. He's reportedly going to see a judge tomorrow. Something is going on.

UPDATE: We have more information. This is increasingly disturbing. It increasingly looks as though someone has decided to play hardball with Dan and James. The Park Police say that Dan is not being released on bail. Dan also has not made his phone call to the person designed to pay his bail - the person's phone number is written on Dan's arm, so there's no chance he doesn't have it. That means that Dan apparently is not being permitted a phone call, and thus not being permitted to have anyone pay his bail. Why not? We have just learned that Dan is in fact being charged with "failure to obey a lawful order," yet that charge usually means you get processed, you pay bail, and you leave. Then why are they not letting Dan Choi leave, but instead are holding him to be arraigned? Why are they apparently not permitting Dan his phone call?

As you know, Lt. Dan Choi got arrested today at the White House along with Capt. James Pietrangelo. Both men handcuffed themselves to the White House gates in protest of the President's "ambivalence" over repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell. The odd thing is that Dan appears to be missing. Kerry Eleved at the Advocate reported that the Park Police said Dan was being held in Anacostia. A friend called the MPD station in Anacostia, and they told him that they weren't holding anyone. The Park Police also reported that Dan was being held overnight, which, according to an MPD source, is unusual if in fact Dan is being charged with "failure to obey a lawful order," as it's being reported, usually you'd be released on bail immediately. So why are Dan and James being held overnight? And why can't anyone even find out where they're being held? Read More...

Pelosi spokesman issues statement about sit-in taking place in her offices in DC and SF

From Kerry Eleveld at the Advocate:

Drew Hammill, Speakers Spokes: “The Speaker believes passing ENDA is a top priority, and hopes that we can bring ENDA up as soon as possible. That being said, the right time to bring the measure to the floor will be when we have the votes.”

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VIDEO: Lt Dan Choi marches to White House & handcuffs self to fence

Lt Dan Choi and Capt James Pietrangelo led a crowd of several hundred supporters from Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington, DC to the White House, where both men handcuffed themselves to the north fence to protest the President's inaction on Don't Ask Don't Tell. Congressman Barney Frank disclosed this week that the White House is "ambiguous" on whether to repeal DADT this year, and Frank called on the White House to make their support for the repeal clear.

Choi is being discharged for being gay and Pietrangelo was already discharged for being gay in 2004. They were coming from an HRC rally with Kathy Griffin - Griffin and HRC president Joe Solmonese were invited to attend, but they ignored Choi when he asked them to march with him. In this video you'll see Choi and Pietrangelo marching with the crowd past the Treasury building to the White House, you'll then see Choi and PIetrangelo speak then handcuff themselves to the White House fence, then you'll see Robin McGehee of GetEqual.org - the group that organized the event, and sit-ins in Speaker Pelosi's DC and SF offices, get arrested. Read More...

HRC issues statement on Dan Choi - which appears to be utterly untrue

Here's the video of Solmonese and Griffin doing their photo op and ignoring Choi's invite to march to the White House - HRC later issued a false statement about the moment, see post after the video.



Here's the part about Choi:

Finally, Kathy Griffin took to the stage, talking about her experiences this week in Washington, welcoming Lt. Dan Choi to the stage to make a few remarks and then calling for a moment of silence to honor our troops who serve in silence.

There’s been some confusion about Lt. Dan Choi’s role in the rally. As Joe Solmonese was walking to the stage, Lt. Choi asked Joe if he could have a speaking role. Joe explained that it wasn’t his sole decision to make on the spot given that there was already an established program that included Kathy Griffin, other organization and veterans. After Choi then spoke with Kathy Griffin, she agreed to bring him up on stage and speak to the crowd during her remarks.

Lt. Choi in his speech called on the crowd to march on the White House. Joe Solmonese along with Eric Alva and others felt it was important to stay and engage those at the rally in ways they can continue building the pressure needed for repeal. This does nothing to diminish the actions taken by Lt. Choi and others. This is the nature of social change and everyone has a role to play.

That is simply untrue. I was there, standing next to Dan, about 10 feet from Kathy Griffin and Solmonese. They were behind a rope line, to keep them from the rally attendees. They looked over at Dan when he asked them, for the second time, to come with him to the White House (mind you, they had no idea that he was planning to handcuff himself), and they just stared back at him. They were not helping engage the rally about how to build pressure - the rally was over, they were already off the stage, behind it actually, getting ready to leave behind a secure rope line to separate them from the crowd. I'm sorry, but this statement is flat out untrue. They were getting their photos taken. Unbelievable. Read More...

Police holding Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. James Pietrangelo in jail overnight

It sounds a bit odd at first blush. Usually when you get arrested for civil disobedience they arrest you, you pay bail, you're out. Kerry Eleveld at the Advocate just tweeted:

Police Spokes says Choi/Pietrangelo will be held overnight and appear tomorrow in DC superior court.

The two were arrested for handcuffing themselves to the White House earlier today to protest the President's indecision on whether to move ahead with the repeal of DADT this year. Read More...

Gibbs asked about DADT protest during White House briefing

Ken Bazinet from the NY Daily News asked Robert Gibbs about the Don't Ask, Don't Tell protest, which was underway during this briefing:
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GetEqual now protesting at Pelosi's offices in DC and SF over ENDA

UPDATE: I've just been told by an organizer that the protesters in SF have been arrested.

By now, hopefully everyone has seen the coverage of the civil disobedience at the White House today over Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It was very powerful.

But, that's not the only thing GetEqual is doing. As I write this, GetEqual activists are in the offices of Speaker Nancy Pelosi in both D.C. and San Francisco. They're demanding action on ENDA.

Andy Towle has some photos and video.

Pam Spaulding just tweeted:

#GetEqual peeps engaged in sit in at Pelosi's offices in DC and SF. Will not leave until #ENDA comes to vote this month - or until arrested!

Game on.

I'll post more as this unfolds. But, it's pretty clear that the LGBT community has had it. We've been telling everyone that the community is angry. I guess they have to see it for themselves. Read More...

CNN's coverage of the DADT protest at the White House today

Rick Sanchez did an excellent piece on the protest at the White House today. Sanchez is "it's a difficult story to watch and certainly a very emotional one." But Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo have had enough.
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Breaking: Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo handcuffed to fence at White House in DADT protest

UPDATE @ 1:56 PM: Choi and Pietrangelo have been arrested. They are no longer on handcuffed to the fence. The crowd is applauding them.

UPDATE @ 1:53 PM: Robin McGeechee from GetEqual has already been arrested. The police hauled her off in handcuffs after Dan and Jim handcuffed themselves to the fence. GetEqual promised direct action -- and we're getting direct action. As of now, Dan and Jim are still handcuffed.
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As I noted below, Lt. Dan Choi spoke at the HRC/Kathy Griffin rally today. Then, he marched to the White House with Capt. Jim Pietrangelo and a crowd of several hundred. Kathy Griffin told Dan that she'd march with him, but didn't. This is a t.v. show for her, but for Dan, it's his life.

After delivering remarks, Dan and Capt. Pietrangelo handcuffed themselves to the fence in front of the White House. As of now, they are still there. Handcuffed to the fence in front of Barack Obama's White House to protest the President's failure to deliver on his promise to end DADT.

This is not the photo that the White House ever wanted. But, it's come to this.
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Dan Choi at HRC/Kathy Griffin rally: 'Our fight is not here at Freedom Plaza, it is at the White House'

HRC and its new lobbyist, comedian Kathy Griffin, are holding a rally today to support the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Oddly, the rally is not on Capitol Hill or in front of the White House. It's at Freedom Plaza, which is across from D.C. City Hall. (The reality is that is basically the setting for an episode of Griffin's reality tv show.)

But, I just learned that Lt. Dan Choi is at the event and made a statement. He's working with GetEqual, the organization promising direct action. Here's a copy of Dan's statement, which I got via email:

Hello. My name is Lt. Dan Choi. I am being discharged from the US Army because I am gay and dared to say it out loud.

Today, I am here on a mission with Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, and we are asking you all to join us. We’re calling you to action because we are at a turning point -- a moment in time where talk is no longer enough, and action is required.

Equality is not going to happen by itself.

You have been told that the President has a plan. But Congressman Barney Frank confirmed to us this week that the President still is not fully committed to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year.

And if we don’t seize this moment it may not happen for a very long time.

Some may tell you that I am one of the lucky ones. I have been welcomed back by my unit with open arms. And it would be easy for me to stay quiet and hope that change will happen.

But what I was taught at West Point and learned in war is -- hope is not a strategy. As officers, James and I both find it a dereliction of our moral duty to remain silent while thousands of our brothers and sister are not allowed to serve openly and honestly.

Capt. Pietrangelo was honorably discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2004 and I will be subject to the same shortly. As officers we are here today fighting for those in the ranks, and we need our Commander in Chief to do the same.

Our fight is not here at Freedom Plaza, it is at the White House. We are walking to the White House right now to send the President a message. So…take out your cell phones and your cameras. Document this moment. Join us as together -- we make history

Stay tuned. This could get interesting...very interesting. Dan is heading to the White House.

John is at Freedom Plaza. He just texted that Kathy Griffin is going to with Dan to the White House. Read More...

At DADT hearing, Senate heard from 'active duty troops who are serving under the burden of this law as we speak'

As noted below, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on DADT repeal today. The panel heard from two witnesses who were discharged under the discriminatory policy. Servicemembers United also provided testimony from people serving now according to the group's press release:

"Today's hearing is yet another historic step forward on the path to repealing the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law, and Servicemembers United is proud to add the voices of a diverse group of anonymous active duty troops who are serving under the burden of this law as we speak, including in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United. "These testimonials are intensely moving, and they illuminate why this law can and should be repealed immediately."

The pdf of the testimony is here. It's powerful:

The members of the Committee have now had a chance to hear from a variety of senior military and civilian leaders from the Department of Defense, and today it will hear from a panel of distinguished veterans about this issue. The one element that remains missing from this debate, however, is the voice of those men and women who are currently serving on active duty under the cloud of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” These servicemembers are the ones who stand to be impacted most by a decision on the fate of this policy, yet their voices are effectively muted by the strictures of the very law that is up for debate.

In lieu of further testimony conveying facts and statistics about the record and impact of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” we offer to you instead a collection of personal testimonials from a diverse range of gay and lesbian troops who are currently serving on active duty, some of which are even fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan right now. We implore each member of the Committee to read through at least a few of these testimonials, as these are the men and women whose lives and livelihoods are at the heart of this debate.

At the White House and on Capitol Hill, this issue is viewed through a political prism. The President needs to keep his promise to repeal DADT. By now, repealing DADT should be beyond politics. It's about people who want to serve their country. And, as we see from this testimony, it's about people who are serving their country in those two wars right now.

More than twenty servicemembers contributed testimony. Read More...

Swarming the Speaker for ENDA today

Today, AMERICAblog is joining the blog swarm to get action on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The House held hearings on ENDA last year. But nothing has happened. Today, a number of blogs are pushing Speaker Pelosi to get a floor vote on ENDA.

The swarm includes Towleroad, Pam's House Blend, Joe My God, Michelangelo Signorile, David Mixner, GoodAsYou.org, Daily Kos, Open Left, Daily Gotham, Culture Kitchen,Taylor Marsh, PageOneQ, Dan Savage, and others.

Jillian Weiss has an excellent post that lays out the rationale for moving forward on ENDA:

Various sponsors promised that the bill would move to a vote in August, September, October, and November of 2009. But in order to go to a vote, the bill had to pass through the House Committee on Education and Labor via a "markup" procedure. Markup was finally scheduled for November 18, 2009. But at the last minute, the markup was postponed, and has still not been rescheduled.

Initially, the Committee said that some technical language required tweaking, ostensibly to insure that plaintiffs could not recover too much money or attorney fees, and to prevent lawsuits based on inadvertent discrimination. But it has become increasingly clear that something else is at work.

A clue to the inaction: Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly told Democrats that she would not move controversial bills. Meanwhile, the House Committee has stated its readiness to move, but is waiting for a signal from Speaker Pelosi.

Why We Need To Demand ENDA Now

We know that Speaker Pelosi is sympathetic to our cause. Clearly, she needs encouragement, because she won't commit to giving the signal to move forward. Meanwhile, LGBT Americans continue to suffer discrimination and harassment with no recourse. Why should we accept mere lip service?

President Obama famously said in a campaign speech that "Power concedes nothing without a fight."

We need to fight.

Here's the ask for today:

Please call Speaker Nancy Pelosi at 202-225-4965. Ask that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, HR 3017, move to a vote.

Please be polite, but firm.

After you call, please tell us how the call went by clicking here. If you get a busy signal or hang up, let us know that too.

This is a fight for equality. And, we have to fight for it.

Call the Speaker. Then, don't forget to let us know how the call went by clicking here. Read More...

Senate will hear from vets discharged under DADT today at 9:45 a.m.

The Senate Armed Services Commmittee is holding another hearing on Don't Ask, Don't Tell today at 9:45. The witnesses supporting repeal are Iraq/Afghanistan vets who were discharged under the law. Michael D. Almy, who served in the Air Force, and Jenny L. Kopfstein who served in the Navy, will testify in support of repeal. The opposition's witness is John Sheehan, who retired from U.S. Marine Corps 13 years ago. You know, because nothing has changed over the past 13 years.

The live webcast is here.

Kerry Eleveld is livetweeting the hearing here. Read More...