MUST SEE VIDEO: Signorile, Savage, Choi and Rosen Debate Obama's Speech on CNN

ACTION: Help Lt. Dan Choi By Signing Letter to House Speaker Pelosi Asking For DADT Repeal

On Tuesday the Federal Recognition Board recommended the discharging of Lt. Dan Choi under the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy because he publicly stated that he is gay. However, the final decision is made by senior Army officials which could come within weeks to a year.

Today in an email through the Courage Campaign, and alongside Lt. Choi's organization Knights Out and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Lt. Choi asks for the continued support from LGBT and allies by signing a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

"I've made my case to President Obama -- supported by more than 140,000 of your signatures. I've made my case to the Army -- supported by more than 160,000 of your signatures. And I will continue to make my case until they fire me for good.

"Now we need to make our case to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Will you join me in asking Speaker Pelosi to strongly support legislation currently in Congress that would repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? Please sign on to our letter before July 4th and I'll personally deliver your signatures to the Speaker ASAP."

Go to the Courage Campaign website to read and sign the letter to speaker Nancy Pelosi. Do it by July 4th!

Army Board Recommends Lt. Dan Choi Be Discharged Under DADT

Today, an Army board in Syracuse at Hancock Air Base recommended that Lt. Dan Choi be discharged under Don't Ask Don't Tell since he publicly stated that he was gay. This despite Choi delivering stacks of letters and petitions from thousands of individuals demanding he should stay in the army.

The recommendation goes to Lt. Gen. Thomas Miller of the First Army Division, and Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, who will make the final decision.

Choi pledged to keep fighting to stay in the army. "I'm disappointed," said Choi at a news conference tonight. "Today was a setback for me."

But Choi said he plans to appeal to the higher ranking officers. "I refuse to lie about my love relationship," he said.

The AP reports, "Lt. Dan Choi is the first New York National Guard member discharged for violating the military's policy against homosexual conduct. About 10,500 military and National Guard members have been discharged for violating the policy in the 12 years from 1997 through 2008."

Last month, Lt. Dan spoke to Unite the Fight at Meet in the Middle, reiterating his pledge to keep fighting DADT.

Lt Dan. Choi Trial Begins Tomorrow Morning - Sign a Letter of Support

Tomorrow, Lt. Dan Choi will face a panel of colonels who will decide whether or not to fire fire him -- to discharge him for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Show your support for Lt. Dan by signing this letter of support that will be given to the members of the board.

So far, 141,262 have signed.

Yesterday, Lt. Dan spoke to CNN about the fight for equal rights and the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall.

Obama Convinces US Supreme Court Not to Hear DADT Case

Yesterday, the US Supreme Court refused to hear a case challenging Don't Ask Don't Tell, which stemmed from a lawsuit by 12 former service members who were discharged because of their sexual orientation. The denial came through certiorari, which comes down to at least four justices were not willing to accept the case.

Here's the fun part.

Bloomberg reports, "The rebuff spares President Barack Obama’s administration from the awkward task of mounting a legal defense for a policy the president says should be repealed. In urging the Supreme Court not to hear the appeal, administration lawyers said a lower court was correct to uphold the policy."

That's right folks, Obama urged the Supreme Court to uphold the policy, stating "don't ask, don't tell" is "rationally related to the government's legitimate interest in military discipline and cohesion." Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman referred requests for comment to the Justice Department, but said the military policy "implements the law."

Naturally, our friend Rachel Maddow had a few choice words for President Obama:



AC360 also asked Lt. Dan Choi for his perspective:



Here's the Gallup Poll referenced by Anderson Cooper.

I just don't get it. Sure, we've heard Obama's reasons before - (paraphrasing here) "This needs to go through Congress for a real fundamental change, my issuing a stop-loss won't change anything, blah blah blah."

WAIT.

Here was a real chance to let the court, potentially, issue a real "fundamental change." It doesn't necessarily have to go through Congress. However, if it went to court, then Obama would have to argue FOR DADT, going against his campaign promises of repealing it. Right?

I might buy that he didn't want to argue for it if he didn't issue a statement that DADT is "rationally related to the government's legitimate interest in military discipline and cohesion." That to me doesn't sound like he's against it. Troop cohesion?! Don't tell that to Lt. Dan Choi.

I'm growing impatient - and not with lack of progress, but lack of support. (I'm not the only one - there's a planned protest of Obama's visit to Moscow by Russian activists showing solidarity with us here in the USA. Wow!)

If he's sticking to his guns of going through Congress, then it sounds like if DADT is repealed, he's hoping to get all the credit for it.

Where's the change Obama promised? So far, I haven't seen any. All I've seen is a president that bought into his own hype.

PLEASE Obama. Prove me wrong. We can't create change without you.

VIDEO: UTF Meet in the Middle Interviews - Lt. Dan Choi

Lt. Dan Choi of Knights Out gives a message to the LGBT population and gay service men and women currently still in the armed forced.



With the controversy over Jason Belinni's report at the Daily Beast that the HRC agreed with the White House not to push for DADT to be repealed this year, and HRC's subsequent denial, Knight's Out issued the following statement.

KNIGHTS OUT CALLS FOR PRESIDENT TO ISSUE STOP-LOSS ORDER

Knights Out, an organization of 400 straight and gay West Point graduates, former staff and faculty, and allies, respectfully calls on our President to sign a stop-loss order immediately to allow Lieutenant Dan Choi, and all other gay and lesbian soldiers, to continue to serve without risk of expulsion under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Expelling gay and lesbian soldiers compromises military readiness. These are soldiers we need to win our wars.

Choi faces a hearing next week that will officially determine if he'll be discharged from the National Guard under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. So far, President Obama has given no indication that he will put the discriminatory policy, which does not contribute to our nation's best interest, on hold.

UTF VIDEO: Lt. Dan Choi Speaks at East LA Day of Decision Protest

Lt. Dan Choi, an Arabic linguist kicked out of the armed services under Don't As Don't Tell and founder of Knights Out, spoke movingly at East Los Angeles' Decision Day protest in front of the registrar's office where marriage licenses are given, hours after the Supreme Court rules to uphold Prop 8.



Others who spoke include Gloria Allred, Robin Tyler, Rick Jacobs of Courage Campaign, Roland Palencia and Lisa Powell of Camp Courage.

During the protest, several same-sex couples entered the registrar's office and asked for marriage licenses. When declined, they refused to leave.

Nothing like good ol' fashion civil disobedience.

Lt. Dan Choi Scheduled to Speak at "Meet in the Middle"

Lt. Dan Choi, who was recently discharged from the military for being gay, will be appearing at the massive, statewide rally Meet in the Middle.

Choi was ousted from the military after he came out on the Rachel Maddow Show and talked about Knights Out, an organization of OUT LGBT West Point alumni, of which Choi founded and is the spokesperson.

The controversy surrounding Choi escalated when a report came out that declared that under the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, President Obama still had the power to cease discharges. Choi is an Arabic linguist, and the military is in dire need of these experts, but the president has refused to invalidate his discharge.

Currently, Dan Choi has sent a letter through the Courage Campaign asking everyone to sign a pledge to be sent to President Obama, urging him not to discharge Choi.

SIGN THE PLEDGE!

Meet in the Middle, scheduled to be in Fresno, CA, the heart of Yes on 8 territory, on the Saturday after the CA Supreme Court rules on Prop 8, will be a historic moment in the equality movement, with thousands expected to attend.

DON'T MISS OUT! Go to the Meet in the Middle website to find out more.

Other speakers include Cleve Jones, Dustin Lance Black, Christine Chavez and the Rev. Eric Lee.

Discharged Lt. Dan Choi Talks to Maddow, Scheduled to Appear at "Meet in the Middle"

U.S. Army First Lieutenant Dan Choi, the first Arabic linguist fired under Obama on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', who had originally announced he was gay on The Rachel Maddow Show a few months ago when he launched Knights Out, talked to Maddow on her show last night.

The appearance marked Choi’s first interview since receiving word this week of his discharge for announcing in March that he is gay.



Choi is scheduled to make an appearance at "Meet in the Middle", a large rally to take place in Fresno, CA the Saturday after the ruling on Prop 8.