New York Army National Guard Lieutenant Dan Choi, famous for handcuffing himself to the White House fence repeatedly along with other LGBT veterans to protest the President’s lack of strong support for repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, is on day five of a hunger strike aimed at pressuring the Senate to pass DADT repeal and pressuring President Barack Obama to end discharges under DADT with an Executive Order. He has been making daily vlog posts to document the impact of his fast on his body. Along with former Army Captain Jim Pietrangelo, Choi is asking supporters of a DADT repeal to mail a paper plate with a pro-repeal message to the White House.

“And the reason why we are doing this is for the achievement of the aims of equality and dignity. I believe in gay and transgender people. I believe in them so much that nothing can tell me that compromise is ok. I believe that integrity can not be purchased. I believe that dignity can not be borrowed, and I believe that equality must never be compromised.”

Elsewhere…

California – Outed State Senator Roy Ashburn swears he’ll never be homophobic again. I wonder if he’ll ever be elected again? (Towleroad)

D.C. – The Bilerico Project has video of Wale’s appearance at DC Black Pride. (The Bilerico Project)

France – McDonald’s has launched a new ad campaign in France aimed at showing LGBT people that they, too, are welcome to consume unhealthy, uncompostable food. (The Advocate, the Grist)

Russia – Behind the scenes at Moscow Pride. (Towleroad)

Teh Interwebs – Pam’s House Blend highlights a documentary on transgender and “transgender-like” veterans throughout American History. (Pam’s House Blend)