In something which should be remembered – because I have a feeling that it may be the opening salvo to something huge and sinister – NY Archbishop Timothy Dolan has sent a letter to President Obama claiming that he is alarmed about recent actions by the President’s administration that supposedly “escalate the threat to marriage and imperil the religious freedom of those who promote and defend marriage.”

Today’s repeal of DADT is a day which many gays and lesbians have been fighting for and waiting to see for a long time.

And of course, there will be a lot of celebrations.

With that in mind, pardon me for being the “one who lapped up the water like a dog ” (it’s a Biblical reference from the book of Gideon) by checking out what folks on the other side of the DADT repeal feel about this historic day.

How did the Secret Service and Department of Interior know about the protest ahead of time? Dan and the other members of the White House 13 did not disclose publicly that they would be taking part in this action.

Dan and his lawyers tried to compel the government to produce the Secret Service’s emails and other documents that would indicate the government was singling out Choi for punishment, but AUSA George maintained that it was not relevant to the case of whether or not Dan broke the law by chaining himself to the White House fence. Judge Facciola ruled in Dan’s favor and demanded the government turn over the documents, prompting George to seek a delay while she prepares a writ of mandamus. Dan will return to court in a few weeks after a decision has been made on the writ.

As one of the thirteen people who handcuffed themselves to the White House Fence on 15 November 2010, I have been following the trial of Dan Choi with much interest; he has been in my thoughts and prayers through this whole ordeal. The reason I handcuffed myself to the Fence was to draw attention to an unjust law that has destroyed the careers of countless members of the U.S. Armed Forces, simply because they are members of a minority group.

It’s going to be a big day on FDL. Pam’s House Blend officially joins us starting today, I’ll be in court with Lt. Dan Choi who is being put on trial by the Justice Department for protesting in front of the White House last November, and Bill McKibben will be coming to court to support Dan after day 10 of the Tar Sands sit-ins conclude. I can’t have electronic devices in the court room but I’ll be posting updates on Twitter and here at FDL as I can throughout the day.

In May of this year, thousands of people gathered at the White House to spontaneously celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden. The Park Police did not ask them for a permit, did not ask them to disperse, and there were no paddy wagons called to haul them away. Of course killing Osama bin Laden was something the President repeatedly spoke of with pride, earning himself not only a bump in his poll numbers but also a Saturday Night Live send-up.

As I sat in DC traffic court waiting for Dan Choi to be released from jail on Monday, it became clear that the objective of the government was to prevent him from doing what the Osama bin Laden celebrants had been freely permitted to do: express their first amendment rights in front of a powerful American symbol owned by the American people.

No — we’re not there yet.

STILL AT RISK: Despite the certification issued today, it is still unsafe for service members to come out until September 20, 2011, when repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will become final.

Making history, 200 LGBT servicemembers — reserve, active duty, and veterans alike — marched openly in the San Diego Pride Parade yesterday. This marks the first time in America a contingent of serving military members participated openly in a gay pride event.

As you can see in the video, the Honoring Servicemembers contingent of 200 military men and women from all branches of the US military received almost universal approval and recognition from the crowd of San Diegans out on yet another lovely parade day (one does wonder why San Diego doesn’t simply have parades every single day, looking at that weather).

The chat logs have been a bedrock for a press that has been working to build an understanding of why Manning was motivated to do what he is alleged to have done. In documentaries, like the PBS FRONTLINE documentary WikiSecrets, the chat logs are what compel narrator Martin Smith to go on a crusade in search for a connection between Assange and Manning.

Between last night’s marvelous happening in New York, the clear cut and admirable new policy by the Obama Administration, and the ever enlightened movement of society, I think the writing is on the wall for the California Supreme Court, and I think they will indeed find that the D-Is have the requisite standing, the 9th will roll with that and away we go to the United States Supreme Court. I truly believe the New York passage will leave such a marker that will carry all this through, and that is a beautiful thing.