Lt. Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo have been arrested at the White House while chaining themselves to the White House gate, protesting the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy.

After a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) rally in Washington on DADT, Choi and Pietrangelo led the rally of about 100 people to the White House where the two proceeded to chain themselves to the gate. Choi had asked HRC executive director, Joe Solmonese if he would join in the march to the White House after the rally, asking Kathy Griffin as well. Though the two had agreed, they were not present at the White House demonstration.

Pietrangelo was discharged under the DADT policy, Choi’s is still pending. Choi started the group “Knights Out” a West Point alumni organization of LGBT soldiers. He stated at the preceding rally: “You’ve been told that the White House has a plan, 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.”

HRC released a statement about the protest, saying, “Today more than 1000 people showed up at a rally – 500 of which signed up to become more involved in the fight to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ Joe Solmonese along with [gay Iraqi War veteran] Eric Alva and others felt it was important to stay and engage those at the rally in ways they can continue building the pressure needed for repeal. This does nothing to diminish the actions taken by Lt. Choi and others. This is the nature of social change and everyone has a role to play.”

We here at id Magazine agree…this is the way change is made, and fortunately we have someone with a backbone to hit this head-on. We’ve counted and there are 33 countries who don’t have a ban like DADT, why is the U.S. so backward on this detrimental policy? Is it because we still live in a puritanical society in the America? What do you think?