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After appearing on Rachel Maddow and informing the world that he he is gay, 1st Lt. Dan Choi was asked to leave the military.

And, being the good soldier that he is, he is fighting back with a multi-pronged strategy. Last week he appeared on Rachel Maddow and CNN’s American Morning. Yesterday, he wrote an open letter President Obama and every member of Congress demanding that he not be fired. Today, through the website Knights Out he is prompting all Americans to call in to the White House to demand a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” And tonight, Choi appears on Anderson Cooper to talk about his experience.

How’s that for military readiness?

From his letter to Obama:

Open Letter to President Obama and Every Member of Congress:

. . . After I publicly announced that I am gay, I reported for training and led rifle marksmanship. I ordered hundreds of soldiers to fire live rounds and qualify on their weapons. I qualified on my own weapon. I showered after training and slept in an open bay with 40 other infantrymen. I cannot understand the claim that I “negatively affected good order and discipline in the New York Army National Guard.” I refuse to accept this statement as true.

As an infantry officer, I am not accustomed to begging. But I beg you today: Do not fire me. Do not fire me because my soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force – we are a family and we support each other. We should not learn that honesty and courage leads to punishment and insult. Their professionalism should not be rewarded with losing their leader. I understand if you must fire me, but please do not discredit and insult my soldiers for their professionalism.

When I was commissioned I was told that I serve at the pleasure of the President. I hope I have not displeased anyone by my honesty. I love my job. I want to deploy and continue to serve with the unit I respect and admire. I want to continue to serve our country because of everything it stands for.

Please do not wait to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Please do not fire me.

Very Respectfully,

Daniel W. Choi
1LT, IN
New York Army National Guard

Read the letter in its entirety here.

And from Knights Out:

TAKE ACTION TUESDAY: Tomorrow – Tuesday, May 12 – call the White House switchboard at 202-456-1111 [to tell the president not to fire Lieutenant Dan Choi – and to keep his promise to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."]

. . . Call Tuesday. It’s important that we flood the switchboards NOW. The Secretary of Defense and the National Security Advisor have been on TV suggesting that we “be patient” – Washington code for “put it on the back burner.” We need to make clear that military readiness requires that we take action, not settle for Washington waffling.

Read the Call to Action in its entirely here.

Choi’s appearance on CNN’s American Morning:

And I’ll post video tomorrow of Choi’s appearance on Anderson tonight.