Episode 283 Interview with Daniel Choi Part 1
On this episode of Ramble Redhead I interview an amazing guy by the name of Daniel Choi and he is one of the founders for an organization called Knights Out which is an organization of out Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) West Point Alumni. He is a client of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), which provides free legal services to those affected by Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. An estimated 65,000 LGBT Americans serve in the armed forces. The views expressed here are Dan Choi’s personal views and not those of the Department of Defense or the Department of the Army.
Lt. Daniel Choi is an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic. On this episode he talks about his life as he grew up in California as a son of a Southern Baptist minister. He talks about why he decided to come out and the reaction he had from his family and friends. He talks about why he wanted to go into the military and how things went during that time.
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May 12th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
what a nice guy!
– Zac
May 13th, 2009 at 9:38 am
This is by far one of my favorite interviews that you have done. I really enjoyed it. I can totally relate. I really do hope that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” gets repealed.
May 13th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I really enjoyed the description of the moral conundrum that Daniel was placed-in: “We are told to not lie, cheat, or steal, and to not abide those who lie, cheat, or steal, then told we _have_ to lie about our orientation or we’ll be unceremoniously drummed out”.
That is pretty much the ridiculousness of Don’t Ask, Don’t tell summed up in a single sentence, and it sucks that so many people have been caught up in it for years.
Otherwise, another blog that I follow posted a letter that Daniel wrote to Congress and The President: http://averagegayjoe.blogspot.com/2009/05/open-letter-to-commander-in-chief.html
I hope he gets more followers and support, he has mine, thanks for that Ramble.
May 15th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Very good interview. Dan is really amazing and very handsome, if I may add.
There are gays and lesbians in the armies of most civilized countries and I haven’t heard yet that those countries have fallen apart. I personally know 3 lesbians serving in the Faroese Navy (as combat divers and seals) and they do an excellent job!
Oh, btw Tom, I love how you always succeed to get the best and most fascinating guests for your interviews – and you always succeed to make them feel comfortable enough to open up and show us unknows sides of their personalities. Very good indeed!
Thank you
xo kb