• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

Dan Choi Hospitalized

December 14, 2010 by Andy Towle

Pam Spaulding reports that Dan Choi has been hospitalized and has sought help from mental health practitioners at a Veterans Administration facility.

Choi wrote Pam an email, explaining:

Choi I did not initially want to publicize this but I now realize it is critical for our community to know several things: veterans gay or straight carry human burdens, Activists share similar burdens, no activist should be portrayed as super human, and the failures of government and national lobbying carry consequences far beyond the careers and reputations of corporate leaders, elected officials, High powered lobbyists, or political elites. They ruin lives. My breakdown was a result of a cumulative array of stressors but there is no doubt that the composite betrayals felt on Thursday, by elected leaders and gay organizations as well as many who have exploited my name for their marketing purposes have added to the result. I am certain my experience is not an isolated incident within the gay veteran community.

At the same time, those who have been closest to me know that I truly appreciate their gracious help and mentorship. I am indebted to their hospitality and leadership.

Autumn Sandeen, a veteran herself who participated with Choi in several of the anti-DADT civil disobedience events, adds her thoughts:

What I do know is that Dan did the responsible thing, and decided to seek professional help through the Veterans Administration when he felt he needed help. He is no doubt resting and receiving the help of professionals that he needs. And, he chose to inform people publicly that he is hospitalized, and he is receiving treatment.

It's too easy to forget that Dan Choi is not just a brave and strong combat veteran, but he's a human being too. I know that from time I've spent with him before engaging in the White House direct actions he truly is brave and strong. He's lived through combat; he's taken upon himself a fight against Don't Ask, Don't Tell for what he hopes will be the benefit of the broad LGBT community. Those are some big stressors Dan has taken upon himself.

I've watched as politicians treat lesbian, gay, and bisexual veterans as if they are political footballs instead of qualified, honorable servicemembers who are prepared to die for their country. I'm sure Dan personally feels treated as less than fully human by many politicians in Washington. Dan's bravery and strength have limitations, and it now appears that he's ran into some of those limits.

Dan isn't alone. There are many, many servicemembers who have seen combat — enduring stresses most of us can't imagine — and yet are still valuable members of society. Dan has been, and still is, a valuable member of his veterans and LGBT communities. Hopefully, when Dan has engaged for awhile in the treatment he knows he needs, he'll again be productive — but hopefully while taking better care of his own needs in the process, and hopefully while better functioning within his own limitations.

I hope that Dan gets the help he needs. He has certainly been and continues to be an invaluable warrior and leader in the fight against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and a powerful voice for equality.

We wish him the best.

Filed Under: Dan Choi, Military, News Tagged With: Dan Choi, Don't Ask Don't tell, Military, News

Recent Posts

  • 100 More Pardons Coming from Trump in Final Days

    100 More Pardons Coming from Trump in Final Days

    3 mins ago
  • ‘Insider Attack’ Fears Prompt Feds to Vet 25,000 National Guard Troops Ahead of Biden Inauguration

    ‘Insider Attack’ Fears Prompt Feds to Vet 25,000 National Guard Troops Ahead of Biden Inauguration

    16 mins ago
  • Scraped from Parler: Interactive Database of 500 Videos of U.S. Capitol Insurrection

    Scraped from Parler: Interactive Database of 500 Videos of U.S. Capitol Insurrection

    49 mins ago
  • ‘Burn After Reading’ Trends After Report That FBI is Investigating if Capitol Insurrectionist Stole Nancy Pelosi’s Laptop to Sell to Russia

    ‘Burn After Reading’ Trends After Report That FBI is Investigating if Capitol Insurrectionist Stole Nancy Pelosi’s Laptop to Sell to Russia

    1 hour ago
Previous Post: « New Legislation Proposes Teaching of LGBT History in California
Next Post: Watch: Michael Moore Talks Wikileaks, Bail for Julian Assange »

Primary Sidebar

  • 100 More Pardons Coming from Trump in Final Days

  • ‘Insider Attack’ Fears Prompt Feds to Vet 25,000 National Guard Troops Ahead of Biden Inauguration

  • Scraped from Parler: Interactive Database of 500 Videos of U.S. Capitol Insurrection

Recent Posts

  • 100 More Pardons Coming from Trump in Final Days

    100 More Pardons Coming from Trump in Final Days

    3 mins ago
  • ‘Insider Attack’ Fears Prompt Feds to Vet 25,000 National Guard Troops Ahead of Biden Inauguration

    ‘Insider Attack’ Fears Prompt Feds to Vet 25,000 National Guard Troops Ahead of Biden Inauguration

    16 mins ago
  • Scraped from Parler: Interactive Database of 500 Videos of U.S. Capitol Insurrection

    Scraped from Parler: Interactive Database of 500 Videos of U.S. Capitol Insurrection

    49 mins ago
  • ‘Burn After Reading’ Trends After Report That FBI is Investigating if Capitol Insurrectionist Stole Nancy Pelosi’s Laptop to Sell to Russia

    ‘Burn After Reading’ Trends After Report That FBI is Investigating if Capitol Insurrectionist Stole Nancy Pelosi’s Laptop to Sell to Russia

    1 hour ago
  • Rudy Giuliani, Who Said He’d Serve on Trump’s Impeachment Team, Now Says He Can’t Because He’s a ‘Witness’

    Rudy Giuliani, Who Said He’d Serve on Trump’s Impeachment Team, Now Says He Can’t Because He’s a ‘Witness’

    2 hours ago
  • Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King’s Monumental ‘Embrace’ to Rise in Boston as Symbol of Racial Equality

    Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King’s Monumental ‘Embrace’ to Rise in Boston as Symbol of Racial Equality

    2 hours ago
  • Lindsey Graham Tells Trump to ‘Keep Your Movement Alive,’ Urges Him to Resist Pardoning the Rioters: WATCH

    Lindsey Graham Tells Trump to ‘Keep Your Movement Alive,’ Urges Him to Resist Pardoning the Rioters: WATCH

    22 hours ago
  • Rep. Madison Cawthorn, Who Rallied Trump Insurrectionists, Claims He and Rep. Lauren Boebert Could Have Stopped Them After the Capitol Siege Was Underway

    Rep. Madison Cawthorn, Who Rallied Trump Insurrectionists, Claims He and Rep. Lauren Boebert Could Have Stopped Them After the Capitol Siege Was Underway

    23 hours ago
  • It’s Bottoms Up on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ [RECAP and RANKINGS]

    It’s Bottoms Up on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ [RECAP and RANKINGS]

    24 hours ago
  • Maskless Leopard Print ‘Karen’ Goes Down Shrieking at Palm Beach Bagel Shop: WATCH

    Maskless Leopard Print ‘Karen’ Goes Down Shrieking at Palm Beach Bagel Shop: WATCH

    2 days ago

Most Commented

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Footer

Copyright © 2021 ยท Log in