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Published Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 | 5:25 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 | 5:25 p.m.
It took awhile, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid kept his promise.
The ban on gays serving openly in the military has been lifted. And that means Lt. Dan Choi, an Iraq war veteran and leading activist for military gay rights, gets his West Point ring back.
Choi, who last summer was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard because he is gay, gave the ring to Reid in July during an emotional meeting at The Rio.
Choi had first met Reid a year earlier, and Reid promised then to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by the end of the year. It didn't happen.
So when they met again, Choi gave his ring to Reid to remind the senator of his promise.
"No one can do it any more than he can. He's the most powerful senator," Choi said at the time.
Reid promised to return the ring when the ban was lifted, and today he delivered. Reid handed the blue-stoned graduation ring back to its rightful owner.
"You ever think you'd get it back?," Reid asked Choi during a meeting in Washington, D.C.
"I didn't know," Choi replied.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was in effect for 17 years. President Barack Obama today signed legislation eradicating the policy and thanked Reid for pushing the repeal through.
Choi also praised Reid for his tenacity in getting the legislation passed.
"You ask any gay advocate or gay American, they would have never thought that this would happen," Choi said. "Today, history was not only made but lives were saved...There are many who are continuing to stay in the closet, and most people don't understand how traumatic it is to hide an essential part of your identity and your family. Today was a repudiation of that shame, and it was a refusal to acquiesce to second-class citizenship."
Thank you, Senator Reid, for keeping your promise.
And thanks to everyone else who made this happen. It's time to relegate DADT to the dustbin of history, where it truly belongs.
Good job, Senator Reid.
It's not a very wide stretch for people to understand love one being might have for another.. Many people have animal family members and it doesn't really draw much attention because unless you go to a "dog lovers convention", it's just someone who has a pet they are dearly fond of. Love comes in many forms and one group probably shouldn't decide what's right or wrong if it's not being forced down your throat. Moderate..police your own group..and let an honorable fact of life play itself out. Left to its own, love is pretty magical stuff and the world these days could use alittle more, in spite of where it might originate from.
Yup, a Democrat created the mess and it took 17 years for another Democrat who needed it for reelection to end it.
As bad as DADT was, it was better than the out right ban on gays and the witch hunt that some conducted for years. DADT was an improvement and a first step in the right direction. You want to blame a Democrat for it? I'd say give them credit!
Actually @askmrmark, Clinton only came up with DADT because the Republicans were planning on witch hunts to get rid if gays in the military and he was not going to let that happen.
If you're going to revise history, you should have done it when Shermie was running the RJ. It won't work here and now.
Yes, Reid is still the most powerful Senator. But he is now crippled. The GOP will be in control of the House in the 112th Congress so Sierra Harry won't be able to push any more crap like this despicable bill upon us. The hobbling of Harry will be a good Christmas gift to decent, tax-paying citizens. Reid knew he had to jamb this degenerate bill through while the liberal outlaws still controlled DC. But, no more.
To Derek Washington: So, you are in favor of social experimentation in the US Armed Forces? Most military brass are against this foolishness, though they can't state their views openly. Reid and Obama, who pushed this despicable legislation, should be required to have a long talk with a leatherneck out in the wood shed.
askmrmark..The Democrat that you are talking about, Bill Clinton, thought it was a better option than Leavenworth. It was. Don't you agree?
This Obama Administration is doing everything it can to bring this country down.
Mr, Hopkins, DADT WAS the social experimentation. It failed and was replaced. Gays and lesbians have been in the U.S. military for centuries, yes CENTURIES. I live in an America where despicable legislation like DADT can be repealed in only 17 years. And for all the Harry Haters: Harry was elected to a SIX YEAR TERM. No matter who is president in 2012, they will have to deal with Harry for FOUR MORE YEARS!