Harry Reid Gives Dan Choi a Moment in the Sun

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Saturday recognized Lt. Dan Choi prior to diving into a speech at the Netroots Nation conference.

In what many LGBT bloggers at Netroots are calling "powerful" and "classy," Reid acknowledged Choi and told those gathered he should not have been booted by the U.S. military.

Choi came out on the Rachel Maddow Show to oppose the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Since then, Choi has been active in several acts of civil disobedience, including one Tuesday where the group GetEqual shut down a major thoroughfare in Las Vegas to put pressure on Reid to move the U.S. Senate on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA).

Reid's honoring of Choi was greeted by a standing ovation. Choi reluctantly stood and waved to the crowd. But interestingly, Reid never looked in Choi's direction -- and Choi was strategically located in the front row about 100 feet from the Leader.

But that moment was not to be the only moment involving Choi and Reid here in Las Vegas.

When Reid sat down to answer prepared questions, the first question came from Choi -- with a gift attached.

Choi gave Reid his West Point ring. Reid initially declined keeping the ring, but after pressure was put on him by Choi and audience members, he agreed to keep it until the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is finally repealed.

Choi greeted this by walking to the barricade in front of the stage and saluting Reid, who saluted back. Then Choi sent security into frenzy by stepping over the barrier and climbing onto the stage. Reid embraced the former soldier.

"We're going to hold you accountable," Choi said to Reid as the two shook hands.

Photo credit: Todd A. Heywood