Discharge US soldier for saying he is gay, says panel

WASHINGTON – A US army panel has recommended that an infantry officer be discharged from the army for declaring on TV that he is gay.

The army accused Lieut Dan Choi (28) of violating the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that bars gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

Lieut Choi, a graduate of West Point military academy, served a tour in Iraq as an infantry officer, translator and Arabic language instructor. He announced in March on a television chat show that he was gay.

The panel recommended that the army withdraw Lieut Choi’s recognition as an officer, a move that would end his military career, a spokesman for the New York army national guard said.

“It is firing based on identity, purely discriminatory based on my identity,” Lieut Choi said. “If I had said, ‘No, I’m sorry, I’m actually straight but those statements were a lie and I’m sorry,’ then I had a good chance of being retained.”

He said the panel rejected testimony from soldiers that he is a good officer. – (Guardian service)