By Della Hasselle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Members of New York's LGBT community made an online get well card Wednesday for openly gay Army veteran Dan Choi, who was involuntarily hospitalized after a mental breakdown he said was brought on by the Senate's recent blockage of a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
The activist, who has publicly bashed the military policy, was checked into Brockton, Mass. Veterans Hospital Psychiatric Ward on Friday Morning. In an e-mail to Pam Spaulding and Autumn Sandeen, co-authors of a blog about gay issues, the activist said that stress from the Senate's decision to block a military spending bill that would have also repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" contributed to his collapse.
"My breakdown was a result of a cumulative array of stressors but there is no doubt that the composite betrayals felt on Thursday, by elected leaders and gay organizations as well as many who have exploited my name for their marketing purposes have added to the result," Choi wrote in the e-mail, which is posted on the blog, Pam's House Blend.
"I am certain that my experience is not an isolated incident within the gay veteran community."
The card, which will be delivered Saturday around 3 p.m., both electronically and in print, is a way of showing that Choi's efforts don't go unrecognized, Sandeen said after his hospitalization.
"It's time to care and make his life not miserable," Sandeen said. "He seemed angrier lately, and to me, that is a sure sign of stress."
"I've seen a few blogs responding to him coming out, slamming him, " Sandeen added. "That kind of stuff wears on you after awhile. Especially when you're working on issues and the issues don't seem to make any progress, or the progress is slushy, like in Washington time."
The Groupcard received over 119 individual notes only hours after it went up.
"Hey Dan, I hope you're feeling better. THANK YOU for your honesty and courage, for your work toward LGTB Equality- I appreciate it," supporter Delayne Corle signed on the card. "I also applaud your honesty on the emotional toll. It's another form of battle, every day. Please take care of yourself! (((Hugs)))."
Easton, Penn. residents Tim and Earle expressed a similar sentiment.
"Anybody who is a self-respecting and self-affirming non-heterosexual who doesn't suffer from and live with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) here on Planet Heterosexual Supremacy is either comatose, cocooning in denial, or brain-dead!" they wrote.
"Kudos to Mr. Dan Choi, a truly brave American."
Friends, as well as strangers, also made it a point to let the activist know that their thoughts were with him.
"Dan, we love you," Andrea Crain wrote. "The time my friends and I got to hang out with you in Chicago still gives me a happy glow-- a mix of serious activism discussion and Lady Gag-watchin' silliness.
"You are awesome. Rest up and feel better."
The House's decision to overturn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on a 250 to 175 vote comes on the heels of Choi's hospitalization. The more Conservative Congress that will start in January, however, is considered less likely to overturn the ban.
