Kathy Griffin Speaks at Don't Ask Don't Tell Rally in DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. - There was a call for change in the District on Thursday. It's all part of the battle to end the military's don't ask, don't tell policy toward gays. Comedian Kathy Griffin, who is known to push the envelope, used her star power to lobby for the cause.

Griffin led a rally at Freedom Plaza to get the policy repealed now. The star of "My Life on the D-List" is speaking out on an issue that can get someone who is gay kicked out. Her jokes were laced with daggers, starting with Senator Saxby Chambliss, (R-GA).

"He's really super crazy," she said.

Griffin didn't hide her opinion of him during a Senate Armed Services hearing.

"I sort of stood up in the front row and said 'peace out you cookoo puffs' and walked out," Griffin said.

At the rally, many were gay and lesbian military veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They waved American flags and held up signs saying "repeal don't ask, don't tell."

Army Lieutenant Dan Choi joined Griffin on stage. He fought his discharge from the military.

"I am still standing. I am still fighting. I am still speaking out. I am still serving my country and I am still gay," he said defiantly to cheers from the crowd.

At the Senate hearing this morning, Republicans remained skeptical.

"My fundamental argument against repealing this policy is that it will likely negatively affect morale until cohesion good order and readiness," said Sen. Chambliss.

General John Sheehan, USMC (Ret.), former supreme allied commander, told senators gay troops create problems in the battlefield. "This is a very risky proposition including openly gay homosexual people in combat organizations," he told lawmakers.

Staff Sergeant Eric Alva, USMC (Ret.), who lost his right leg serving in Iraq, says people have the right to serve their country as patriotic gay men and women.

"There are people on death row, after losing my leg and shedding blood for this country, who have more rights than me," he said.

Griffin urged the crowed to call and write their Congress members.

"I think we should become more like the crazy nutbagger right wingers and flood them with e-mails," she said.

After the rally, a group marched to the White House, led by Lt. Choi who chained himself to the fence. Supporters chanted, "Hey hey, ho ho, don't ask don't tell has got to go."

Earlier Choi spoke at the rally, saying, "I am asking you commander in chief, repeal don't ask don't tell. Not next year, not tomorrow, but now."

President Barack Obama called for a repeal in his State of the Union address. Last month, the secretary of defense and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said they supported allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.