Lt. Dan Choi Discharged From the Army

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - Army Lt. Dan Choi, who came out as gay on the Rachel Maddow Show, is now out of the military.

Newsweek reported that Choi recently got a call from his commander at the 1/69 Infantry Regiment of the New York Army National Guard telling him that he was honorably discharged from the armed services.

His discharge papers , which Choi posted on his website, read: "Choi did publicly admit, on more than one occasion, in person and through the media, that he is a homosexual." It went on to say such conduct is in violation of Army and National Guard regulations.

Choi said his commander was supportive and said, "I know this was something you didn't want to hear."

"I said to him, 'Thank you for your leadership.' He's been nothing but supportive of me throughout this whole journey."

Newsweek said that Eric Durr, director of public affairs for the New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs, confirmed that Choi was honorably discharged under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on homosexuality.

Choi was an Iraq war veteran and a graduate of the West Point military academy.

"After 11 years since beginning my journey at West Point, and after 17 months of serving openly as an infantry officer, this is both an infuriating and painful announcement," he told the New York Daily News . "It hurts, but then you remember what your service really meant. Wearing that uniform is not about symbols or rank. It's about fighting for freedom and justice. It's the absolute duty of my life to fight this."

The Daily News said Choi, 29, had challenged efforts to discharge him since he came out on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show. He was arrested twice for chaining himself to the White House fence this year to protest the law, which the newspaper said has forced more than 12,500 men and women from the military.

ABC News said federal prosecutors dropped charges pending against Choi for the arrests.

He told ABC News that he would continue to speak out against the law, which Congress is considering repealing. The House of Representatives voted in favor of legislation to repeal the law in May. The Senate has not yet voted on it.

Newsweek said that the Pentagon expects to complete a study on the effects of the repeal in December.

Choi, who was an infantry platoon leader in Iraq in 2006 and 2007, has vowed to continue fighting. His website proclaims "Gay ... Fired ... and Fighting Back!"

He said in a statement on the site that, "from the first moment we put on our nation's uniform and swore our solemn oath, we committed ourselves to fight for freedom and justice; to defend our constitution and put the needs of others before our own."

"This is not an oath that I intend to abandon," he said. "Doing so at such a time, or remaining silent when our family and community members are fired or punished for who they truly are would be an unequivocal moral dereliction that tarnishes the honor of the uniform and insults the meaning of America."