LT. Dan Choi Takes "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Directly to Obama

By Linda Milazzo, AlterNet. Posted June 1, 2009.

First of all, how many great soldiers, translators, officers have we lost simply because people are uncomfortable with the idea of gay. How un-macho does that seem that I don't want gays around me 'cause it's icky. Here's the ironic part. One of the reasons that they used to make being gay in the service and in the DOD [Department of Defense] and the government illegal was because it was so shunned in the public circles that you could be blackmailed easily. The cure to that is not to make it more illegal or more shunned. The cure is open it up. Nobody can blackmail a state official for being gay if nobody cares. That seems to be the logical thing. We'd take their weapon away. But we've been too afraid to do that up until now. Obviously the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell is a necessary moment and I do believe Obama's moving toward that. He formed an actual commission to do it and he's actively moving in that direction and I just think that it takes time and I respect the fact that it takes time so I'm here because we have to be.

One contrast worth noting on Wednesday night was the obvious separation between those who rallied earlier in the day against the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and those who rallied later in the day on the issues of gay rights and equality. The organizers of the gay rights and equality rally scheduled their event for 6PM, so as not to conflate issues with the peace activists and keep each group's messages separate and distinct.

The rationale for clarity of message is understandable. Certainly all groups want their message understood. And sadly, both groups, the peace movement and the pro-gay marriage/anti-Prop 8 movement, have at times fallen short in their messaging.

As for the failure to stop Prop 8 in 2008, Matt Palazzolo of Equal Roots Coalition, frames it this way:

I think what propelled Prop 8 to be supported and pass were two things. The first was a series of some lies and then just some heavily shrouded information from the YES on "8" side. And you know every side of a campaign has propaganda but they got [YES on Prop 8 side] really dirty and played tricks. And the other part is the blame on the NO on "8" campaign that they did a very poor job in the community… with people of color and the center of the state and because of that we failed to move enough of these people.

Why Proposition 8 passed in 2008 in California will be the subject of much discussion and strategizing as the 2010 and 2012 elections approach - just as the question of why the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have not yet ended will similarly be hotly discussed. Still there is strength in numbers.

One can be certain that amongst the thousands who marched Tuesday night through California and across the nation in opposition to the Supreme Court ruling to uphold Proposition 8, that there were many who've been active in the anti-war movement. After all, the suppression of the weak by the strong, sorrow and injustice are hallmarks of LGBT inequality, and of war. Perhaps as the LGBT struggle for humanity and civil rights moves forward, and the common struggle for humanity and civil rights to end war also moves forward, a greater harmony will develop between these two groups - with clarified goals and a universal message that unity wields more power than division.

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Linda Milazzo is a Los Angeles based writer, educator and activist. Since 1974, she has divided her time between the entertainment industry, government organizations & community development projects, and educational programs.

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