CORVALLIS, Ore. - A gay activist who was discharged from the U.S. Army under its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is delivering the keynote address at next month's Queer History Month celebration at Oregon State University.

Lt. Dan Choi, an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights and veterans' health activist will speak at 6 p.m., Oct. 3, in LaSells Stewart Center's Austin Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

A West Point graduate majoring in Arabic, Choi served 10 years with the Army, including service in Iraq. He came out on The Rachel Maddow Show in 2009, Choi said, because he believed being honest about his sexual orientation was consistent with the Army's own Cadet Honor Code.

As a result, Choi was discharged from his military service. He was arrested after chaining himself to a White House fence in 2010. In December 2010, Choi was present when President Barack Obama signed the bill that established the process for ending "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

There will be an almost-daily series of events at OSU celebrating Queer History Month, including an LGBTQ Pride Panel on Oct. 16, 3 p.m. in MU 213, and the OSU Fall Drag Show, 8 p.m., Oct. 26, in the MU Ballroom. For a full list of events, see: https://www.facebook.com/events/484304794936537/

This event is sponsored by numerous campus organizations.

Source: 

Rylan Wall, 541-737-9161

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