Twelve people were arrested in Washington, D.C., on Monday in a protest against the ban on openly gay and lesbian service members in the military. The protesters chained themselves to the fence in front of the White House. The group included Lt. Dan Choi, an openly gay service member discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” earlier this year. Choi said Democrats, who have backed a delay in repealing the ban, are engaging in what he called “silent homophobia.”

Dan Choi: “There is a loud homophobia of those with platforms, and there is a silent homophobia of those who purport to be our friends and do nothing. Loud homophobia and silent homophobia have the same result. They must be combated, and this is what we intend to do today.”