Metro Weekly

Gay Army vet, Dan Choi, has mental “breakdown” after intense battle over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy

”My breakdown was a result of a cumulative array of stressors but there is no doubt that the composite betrayals felt on Thursday, by elected leaders and gay organizations as well as many who have exploited my name for their marketing purposes have added to the result. I am certain my experience is not an isolated incident within the gay veteran community.”

Dan ChoiLt. Dan Choi writing reluctantly to Pam’s House Blend about entering a VA hospital for mental health issues. (Pam’s House Blend)

Choi was discharged in July of 2010. He publicly came out on the Rachel Maddow Show in 2009 to protest the dishonorable “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. He engaged in a very public campaign with the aid of some very vocal and visible activists: handcuffing himself to the White House fence, taking on the Human Rights Campaign, confronting Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader. In October of 2010, he began proceedures in NYC to re-enlist, but was thwarted by Republicans, first in the US Senate, and then again by the impending Republican takeover of the House in 2011. A stand-alone bill to repeal DADT is allegedly still under consideration, but time is running out for the current Democrat-run Congress.

 

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