Openly Gay Asian Americans Discharged from the Military

A few weeks ago, I made a post about Lieutenant Dan Choi, an openly gay West Point grad that had served in Iraq. Lt. Choi is the figurehead for a movement opposing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the homophobic policy that prohibits open homosexuals from serving in the military. This was — and still is — a movement that garnered attention from blogs and news networks because it showed just how detrimental the policy was to our national security. But apparently being gay trumps being an honorable and brave serviceman because Lt. Choi and fellow soldier Second Lt. Sandy Tsao are both being discharged from the military due to their sexual orientation. As always, I turn to the Daily Show to get a better perspective.

The problems with this are pretty obvious. To fire one of the 54 Arabic translators serving in the military, in an age when Arabic translators serving in the military are in high demand, is beyond ludicrous. What’s worse is the inaction coming from the White House; I wrote before how November 4th’s was sort of a bittersweet day because of Prop 8 here in California and this doesn’t make it much better. Despite reaffirmations from President Barack Obama, in forms of speeches and hand written letters , that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would be repealed – and apparently it could easily be done so – it still very much stands and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon.

I’ve been trying to look at this story from another prospective, or at least to find someone who’s looking at this story from another prospective, but I just haven’t been able to find them. There is just no rational reason for this policy to continue, or for these honorable individuals and heroes to be treated the way they have been treated.