Syracuse, NY -- Lt. Dan Choi vowed Tuesday evening to fight to stay in the military after an Army board in Syracuse recommended he be the first person discharged from the New York National Guard for violating the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

A four-officer panel meeting at Hancock Air Base notified Choi at about 5 p.m. that it would recommend he be discharged because he has publicly said he is gay.

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The recommendation now goes to Lt. Gen. Thomas Miller of the First Army Division, and Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, who will make the final decision.

"Today was a setback for me," Choi said at a 6:10 p.m. news conference. "I got in trouble for saying three words. 'I am gay.'"But he said he refuses to lie about being involved in a relationship with another man. Choi said the relationship has made him a better person, a better Christian and a better officer.

Choi, an Arabic-speaking officer who served for 15 months in Iraq as a member of Fort Drum's 10th Mountain Division before joining a New York National Guard unit based in Manhattan, said he would appeal to the higher-ranking officers to stay in the National Guard.

There is no deadline for a final decision in Choi's case.

The fate of Choi and other gay and lesbian military personnel may ultimately lie with the White House and Congress, however.

While hosting a White House reception on Monday recognizing Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month, Obama repeated that he will work to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy approved in 1993 by President Bill Clinton and Congress.

The policy forbids military recruiters from asking someone about his or her sexual orientation, but also prohibits a service member from revealing if he or she is gay.

"As I said before -- I'll say it again -- I believe 'don't ask, don't tell' doesn't contribute to our national security. In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security," Obama said.

"... I've asked the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a plan for how to thoroughly implement a repeal," Obama said.

Ending the policy would require congressional approval.

Some members of Central New York's congressional delegation are taking active roles this year in efforts to repeal the policy.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who recently met with Choi in her Washington D.C. office, is working with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., to draft legislation in the Senate that would do away with "don't ask, don't tell." Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., will support any effort to repeal the policy, a spokesman said Tuesday.

In the House, Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, is among 150 co-sponsors of a bill that would repeal the policy. A spokesman for Rep. Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt, said Maffei would support the legislation, although he is not currently a co-sponsor.

"The 'don't ask, don't tell' policy should be re-evaluated. It's proven to be ineffective," Maffei said Tuesday. "The military, in following the policy, has had to discharge very good people who were willing to serve their country. It just doesn't make any sense."

The only member of the Central New York delegation who has remained uncommitted on the issue is Rep. John McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, the former ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

McHugh has declined to discuss his position since Obama announced his intent to nominate McHugh to serve as Secretary of the Army.

In 2008, McHugh said, "We need active military input on the effects a change in policy would have at a time of war."

"As it was in 1993, the question of whether the law is to be changed should ultimately rest on the matters of military readiness, morale, good order and discipline," McHugh added.

More than 1,000 retired generals and admirals signed an open letter earlier this year supporting the ban on gay troops serving openly, and predicted a repeal could eventually break the all-volunteer force.

About 10,500 military personnel have been discharged for violating the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the 12 years from 1997 through 2008, said Cynthia Smith, a Defense Department spokeswoman.

Another 250 individuals have been discharged this year, according to congressional members.

Advocates for change argue that the military would be stronger if it had not kicked out what amounts to a full battalion of troops just because they were gay.

At his news conference, Choi pressed Obama to issue an executive order suspending the discharges until Congress can vote on legislation.

Tuesday's hearing was held in Syracuse because it is the headquarters of the 27th Brigade Combat Team, which oversees Choi's National Guard unit, the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry. It was closed to the public and the media.

Choi and his attorney provided the hearing panel with a disc that contained letters and petitions signed by 260,000 people supporting Choi's efforts to stay in the National Guard.

"I served with him for six months on the sands of Iraq. Dan was -- and is -- a fine officer, one of the best I've ever met," wrote Army Maj. Jessica McCoy. "Soldiers do not care about sexual orientation. They care about mission, a hot meal, and surviving until they get home."

Choi and three other witnesses from the New York National Guard testified, said Maj. Roy Diehl, Choi's attorney. Choi said that none of the witnesses said he was a poor officer or that they would object to serving with him.

The hearing board also watched a video clip of Choi outing himself on March 19 on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show.

Contact Mike McAndrew at mmcandrew@syracuse.com or 470-3016 and Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.