Naval Academy Alumni Association Rejects Gay Alumni Chapter

ap ^ | 12/5/03

[knak]

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The governing board of the Naval Academy Alumni Association on Friday unanimously rejected a bid by 32 graduates to establish the first official gay and lesbian alumni chapter of any U.S. service academy.

The board of trustees released a memorandum saying they denied the application because it was based too specifically on a special interest, its membership would be too exclusive, and it wasn't centered on a geographical area.

"I know that there are people who are part of the board of trustees who don't have open minds toward recognizing gays and lesbians," said Jeff Petrie, a 1989 Naval Academy graduate who organized the effort to establish a gay chapter. "I think as time passes, those feelings will fade away and we'll eventually be accepted."

There is no appeal process for the organizers of USNA Out, but they aren't barred from filing their application again, said Skid Heyworth, vice president of communications for the military college's alumni association.

Petrie said his group has not yet decided whether to reapply.

The rejection sends a message to gay men and women in the military that they are not considered equal, said Aaron Belkin, director of the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

"It's a signal that the military is still on the wrong side of history, and that they are continuing to refuse to recognize gay sailors who risked their lives for their country," Belkin said.

Naval Academy alumni are able to join the Service Academy Gay and Lesbian Alumni Association (SAGALA), an 150-member alumni association that isn't officially sanctioned by any of the military academies. Many of its members are anonymous.

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[RedBloodedAmerican]

Well, that will give the ACLU something to do </sarcasm>

[jwalsh07]

Since I'm Army and my brother is Navy there is a joke to be made here but in the spirit of the season I will refrain.

[07055]

Reminds me of Churchill's comment about the traditions of the Royal Navy: Rum, Sodomy and the lash.

[annyokie]

Hubby is Army son is Navy. Thanks for your restraint! ; )

[RedBloodedAmerican]

OK, I looked at the SAGALA website and am thoroughly grossed out and disgusted.

[Old Sarge]

"I think as time passes, those feelings will fade away and we'll eventually be accepted."

Don't count on it, poofdah.

[onyx]

Good post, knak.

Matt, I know you can well imagine what my USNA class of '58 husband just said. He didn't know anything about this til now. :)

[longtermmemmory]

The rejection sends a message to gay men and women in the military that they are not considered equal, said Aaron Belkin, director of the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

*** *** ****

That is a very good message to send.


BTW: Who the heck funds such a no where "center", I bet the center has a staff of one person, this wacko.

[U S Army EOD]

Well now I understand why I was told to never pick up the soap on a Navy ship.

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

I know one guy from the Village People is going to be pissed!

[Jeff Chandler]

The phrase "Village People" comes to mind.

[Jeff Chandler]

I'm too slow.

[Jeff Chandler]

Do you know what the navy definition of "good buddy" is?

[Mercat]

nobody is telling them that they can't join a chapter for crying out loud!!!!! We should start having whine and cheese alerts.

[cynicom]

Guess those stories about the navy do have some basis of fact.

[Az Joe]

There are no gays in the Navy. TMy boatmate on my sub who kept dropping the soap in the shower told me so.

[onyx]

No idea I guess regarding the number of lesbos and homos who comprised the 32 graduates? My husband is 'hoping' it's more of a lesbo thang.

[Yasotay]

I'm sorry but .... GO ARMY .... BEAT NAVY!!!(Even if navy likes it....)

[U S Army EOD]

Well here is the good news and the bad news. Most of these people were lesbians but they graduated from the Naval Acadamy before they started admitting women.