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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[upchuck]

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.

Awwwwww... poor babies.... they're just victims.

Damn right they're not equal. They're queers!

[Darksheare]

My former First Sar was a 'squid' before he went Army, and there's definately all kinds of jokes that this thread brings to mind.
*in slightly shade tree used car salesmen voice*
"I'd ahh.. tell ya the jokes but that'd kinda be'a violatin' don't ask don't tell"

Response as to why we were dragging a camo net, sledge, and some rope through the drill floor area:
"It's got something to do with don't ask don't tell."

Cripes, when Clinton came up with that, he opened the door for ALL kinds of jokes about that alone.

Sidentoe, wouldn't having an officially recognised gay alumni shapter be a violation of don't ask don't tell?
No-one is asking them, but they're telling anyway?

[I got the rope]

LOL. I remember going to my First Sgt's office one time to update him on the status of something. I knocked on his door and saw our Captain sitting across from him. He glanced at my Captain then looked back at me and said..."WHAT!...Don't tell me your coming out of the closet too?!"

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

GO ARMY!!!!!! Just a little more than 3 hours until the big game!

[Darksheare]

Oh no!
We had a Cap that was kinda..
Well, he was married for 'propriety' reasons.
*ugh*
But it made for good jokes.
At least until we got slammed for making "don't ask don't tell" jokes.
*LOL!*

[longtermmemmory]

An old friend I know who was aboard British Naval ships, said that those who were found to be homosexuals accidentally fell overboard.

(does anyone remember the number of overboard incidents that happened during the first 100 days of the clinton administration? It was shortly at that point when "don't ask, don't tell" was adopted)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Lots of "spirit" there - any defensive line? ; )

You have a good weekend, too!

Hey Army! BOHICA!!!

[Yasotay]

No .... Congrats .... :(

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Hey, sorry for ribbing you - there were a few times when I thought it was going to be a really close game. You can be proud.

[Yasotay]

I thought during the 3rd Quarter there was a chance to come back .... but throwing two interceptions is enough to lose any game.....have a Merry X-Mas!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Merry Christmas to you, too, Yasotay.