DISGRASIAN™

President Obama: You Better, You Better, You Bet

Hi President Obama,





We hear from David Axelrod that during tonight’s State of the Union, you will ask Congress to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

We’ll be watching and listening. Sure hope Axelrod isn’t fucking around.

Good luck with the speech! Knock ‘em dead.

xoxo,
DISGRASIAN

[CNN: Obama To Call For "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal, Adviser Says]

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Filed under: David Axelrod, Discriminatory Policies, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Rights, Gay Rights are Human Rights, Good Things Come To Those Who Wait, President Barack Obama, Promises Promises, Speeches, State Of The Union

AMAZIAN OF THE WEEK! Colonel Om Prakash, Author Of Anti-”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Essay

In the current issue of the Pentagon’s top scholarly journal, Joint Force Quarterly, Air Force colonel Om Prakash has published an article arguing that openly gay troops do not hurt unit cohesion or combat effectiveness, calling the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy a “costly failure” and asking President Obama to find a way to repeal the ban.

The essay was selected as the winner of this year’s Secretary of Defense essay contest and was reviewed in advance of publication by the office of Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to the NY Times. Prakash, who works in the office of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, studied the issue while a student at the National War College. The article signals a shift in the thinking of the Pentagon’s top officials and is expected to put pressure on Obama to repeal DADT.

In “The Efficacy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Prakash reasons:

…the law as it currently stands does not prohibit homosexuals from serving in the military as long as they keep it secret. This has led to an uncomfortable value disconnect as homosexuals serving, estimated to be over 65,000, must compromise personal integrity. Given the growing gap between social mores and the law, DADT may do damage to the very unit cohesion that it seeks to protect.

Yes sir, Colonel! We couldn’t agree more.

[Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 55]
[Boston Globe: Pentagon airs criticism of 'don't ask']

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Filed under: Amazians, Barack Obama, Department of Defense, Discriminatory Policies, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gays in the Military, Military Men, Pentagon

Dan Choi Fills Us With Joy

Standing behind the Poitier building on the Sony lot in Culver City last night, I reminisced with pride about the calm, cool manner in which I once met Sidney Poitier. He shook my hand and I somehow avoided squealing, then followed up with charming conversation and gentle laughter, holding in my excitement for the first moment he wasn’t within shouting distance. An hour later, I totally fucking freaked out and called everyone I could think of to brag. But the running phrase in every call was: “Well you see, I tend not to get starstruck, so I…”

Mid-flashback, I spotted Dan Choi, one of DISGRASIAN’s favorite Amazians, who was in Los Angeles last night to present the press screening of Brave New Foundation’s latest installation of the In Their Boots series: “Silent Partners.” “Partners” is a documentary short (watch a preview here) about the same-sex partners of three American service members whose lives are shrouded in secrecy because of our military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy–heartbreaking and difficult to watch, but important and incredibly beautiful.

Simply over-choi-ed

I immediately turned into a bumbling idiot, gushing over Choi’s awesomeness and DISGRASIAN’s deep (and clearly very clunky) admiration of his good work. Witnesses have told me that I barfed out words like “flurferful” and “prowb,” possibly even referred to myself as “Dinana.” Whoops.

Still, despite my semi-creepy enthusiasm, the wondrous (and completely adorable) Dan Choi humored me. He even spared some of his early West Point knowledge, teaching me how to properly salute (this actually took awhile):

The smooshed chin is not part of the salute…

Until I got it right:

…but the Lieutenant is!

Basically, if I could take back the “flurferful,” I would. But in the meantime, I’ll just keep celebrating Choi’s good work and hope he forgives DISGRASIAN for the bungled remarks of one truly starstruck blogger.

[In Their Boots: Silent Partners]

Thanks, Abe, Cate and Jake!

Filed under: Amazians, Awesome Documentaries, Dan Choi, Discriminatory Policies, Don't Ask Don't Tell, I am Starstruck, In Their Boots: Silent Partners, Knights Out, Salutes

SPORTS ILLUSTRASIAN: The LPGA Backs Off Ricist "English-Only" Policy

The LPGA has scrapped its plan to suspend players who don’t pass an oral English exam, after protests from sponsors, athletes, Asian-American groups, and California State Senator Leland Yee (pictured right). According to Bloomberg, the LPGA has 121 international players from 26 countries, including 45 South Koreans. The English-only policy was considered to be targeting Asians, who have won 7 out of 24 events this year.

I’m glad the LPGA has come to its senses. Frankly, if Senator Yee were giving me that Hardass Evil Eye, I would, too! I’d also make straight A’s on my next report card, wear modest clothing, become a violin virtuoso, respect my elders, go to Chinese school every Saturday, and never have sex!

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Filed under: Asian Golfers, Chinese School, Discriminatory Policies, English Only, Golf, Golfers, Hardass Asian Legislators, Leland Yee, Report Cards, Ricism, Sex, The Evil Eye, The LPGA Tour, Violin Virtuousos