Noted below:<\/p>\n
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Former Army Lieutenant Dan Choi<\/strong>, an outspoken advocate for open service by homosexuals in the US military, is fighting federal charges<\/a> for handcuffing himself to the White House perimeter fence, the third similar incident.<\/p>\n Choi’s attorney argued he is being treated different because of the substance of his protest.<\/p>\n Choi\u2019s attorney Robert Feldman said…people arrested for protesting at the White House are usually charged in local court where the penalty for disobeying a police order is a fine of between $100 and $1,000. But Choi was charged in federal court, where he faces both a fine and jail time of up to six months.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The article notes, even if Feldman doesn’t, that the 12 other people arrested with Choi were treated the same way, and they have already pled guilty in the federal court.<\/p>\n The Associated Press photo accompanying the article shows Choi in uniform, though as a former servicemember he would not be authorized to wear the uniform under these circumstances. Choi has repeatedly worn the US Army uniform in his political protests<\/a> as a civilian.<\/p>\n The presiding judge “put his trial on hold<\/a>,” apparently indicating Choi may actually have shown he was being treated uniquely.<\/p>\n OutSource (the magazine of homosexual advocacy organization <\/strong>OutServe) will be available on US military bases<\/a> on September 20th, the same day the repeal of the policy most often known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” goes into effect.\u00a0 It will apparently be free<\/a>.\u00a0 The group OutServe reportedly has 4,000 members<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some military members\u00a0are “struggling” with the decision to tell their peers about their homosexuality<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0One servicemember noted it’s not really that big of a deal anymore.\u00a0 Heterosexual married guys are getting “picked on” more than homosexuals<\/a>:<\/p>\n “You still have guys teasing other guys for acting \u2018gay\u2019 once in a while, but the straight married guys are the ones getting picked on the most. I don\u2019t think anyone would be surprised to find out I\u2019m gay, but I never get picked on.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Someone is always <\/em>getting “picked on” in most\u00a0small unit\u00a0military cultures, some of which are barely one step above the high school locker room.\u00a0 It seems sexuality will still be a valid “target,”\u00a0just not homosexuality.\u00a0 After all, is someone really going to complain about being teased because they’re heterosexual?<\/p>\n
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