It ain’t that kind of party! (photo: gayamericablog)
It was during our pleasant, al fresco White House briefing today that we caught some chanting and bullhorn activity wafting over the Colonnade. The warmer weather has brought more school groups, demonstrators and tourists to the fenceline recently — meaning more lockdowns and street closures, generally.
Note to visitors: Please keep your My Little Pony backpacks and other personal items with you at all times.
While we were back there in the sunshine, Lt. Dan Choi, dismissed from the military after declaring himself gay on cable, cuffed himself to the fence with former Army infantryman Jim Pietrangelo to protest “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Both were arrested and the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House was cleared by the Secret Service.
Choi had earlier attended a Human Rights Campaign rally at Freedom Plaza, where demonstrators expressed frustration at President Obama’s desultory attitude about repealing the policy. From The Advocate:
“You’ve been told that the White House has a plan,” Choi told rally attendees. “But we learned this week that the president is still not fully committed. … Following this rally, I will be leading [the protest] to the White House to say ‘enough talk.’ … I am still standing, I am still fighting, I am still speaking out, and I am still gay.”
Choi, a graduate of West Point and an Iraq War veteran, announced he was gay a year ago on the Rachel Maddow show and soon after learned the Army was preparing to discharge him.
