In order for gay West Point students to keep their careers in tact, they have to do more than earn top marks. They have to learn how to act straight.
That was one course requirement Katherine Miller refused to accept; she quit this month. But for others in the New York academy’s “gay underground,” it’s a requirement, relays the Times in a lengthy report.
But just because gay cadets risk being expunged if they’re outed doesn’t mean it’s an entirely sterile environment.
An encounter during military maneuvers might result in flirtatious Facebook messaging back in the barracks. Those who earn weekend passes might make late-night runs to gay bars in Manhattan, about 50 miles away, or to gay parties on nearby college campuses, often with students they met through intercollegiate sports.
The two lesbian cadets described all this at 9 o’clock one night last week at Jefferson Library, amid dozens of classmates dressed in immaculately pressed gray uniforms, sitting up straight and studying textbooks. Both said they had been openly gay in high school but found gay socializing nearly impossible during the strict first year at West Point, then began to confide in a tight group of loyal friends as liberties increased. “Anyone you meet here,” the senior female cadet said, “you have to assess their personality very closely, and see if you can trust them.”
For dudes too.
How about we take this to the next level?
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The male cadet in his fourth year said he had had sexual relationships with several other men at the academy. Last year, he fell for a guy at a gay bar in Manhattan who, to the surprise of both of them, turned out to be a classmate.
Back on campus, they enjoyed and suffered through a seven-month relationship on the “down low,” he said. They might share a meal at Grant Hall, but if they passed each other in company, they would simply nod hello or offer a casual back-slap. They did not attend the year-end formal dance together.
Now what does it say in the West Point Cadet Honor code? That you will not “lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do”? I do love a policy that forces everyone to break it.
sjames6621
On another site with similar news, there was a commnet from a “sgtbilly” , who said the lesbian should be “fragged”
Dumb people, who may well be alive only because some secretly gay other soldier took action to save them – possibly at the cost of his own life.
We need a new law to toss people out of the military. Those with homophobia, soon to be recognized as a mental illness
Lets toss them out, with loss of all pensions and benefits.
So that we don’t have people in our mil who don’t deserve to wear the uniform of so many who gave their lives for our freedom – both gay and str8.
sjames6621
BTW – I’ve met many gay soldiers. Who say that most of their comrades know they are gay, and don’t care at all.
The only thing that matters to these str8 people is you do your job to get the mission accomplished, and protect the other people as they protect you.
Its the stuck in the MUD generals etc who are the big problem with DADT.
How about another RIF. We can certainly do without a dozen old donkeys out of the 4300 general officers in our mil.
Pr. Obama should simply, as commander in chief, tell them:
I will have your resignation on my desk by noon tomorrow. Or else as commander in chief, I will dismiss you from the military with loss of all pensions and benefits.
And suddenly they’ll find the 4 while drive lever for their brain, and get out of the mud and on with the mission.
Steve
The most disturbing comments to me in the NYT article are the ones who say “She knew what she was getting into and shouldn’t complain now”. Those aren’t just nutcases. They think they are rational, but they don’t really know what they are talking about. Thankfully, there majority of the people who replied are more intelligent than that.