Dan Choi (born February 22, 1981)[2] is an American former infantry officer in the United States Army who served in combat in the Iraq War during 2006–2007.Despite his appeal and a Courage Campaign petition signed by almost 162,000 people,[15] on June 30, 2009, a panel of New York National Guard officers recommended that Choi be discharged from the military.[19] The organization offers "to help their alma mater educate future Army leaders on the need to accept and honor the sacrifices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops."[19][20] Choi has also spoken at numerous gay rights events, including a march in Los Angeles following the California Supreme Court's affirmation of Proposition 8.On May 27, 2009, he addressed a demonstration of gay activists outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where President Barack Obama was speaking at a Democratic National Committee fund raising event.[22] On July 16, 2009, Choi was in Culver City, California, to introduce the premiere of Abe Forman-Greenwald's documentary called Silent Partners.[36] On May 27, 2010, Choi and Pietrangelo began a hunger strike until President Obama ends DADT and adds a non-discrimination policy to the military code.[43] That same day, Dan Choi went to the Times Square recruiting station in New York to rejoin the U.S. Army[43] (referred to in one source as "reaccesion");[44] his request is in process.