Knights
Out
Fact Sheet |
|
The group’s
activities and goals will include:
-
Financially
supporting and providing speakers for AOG
and West Point efforts to educate cadets and
graduates in sexual diversity
-
Providing a
web-based forum (www.KnightsOut.org
) for furthering discourse on this topic
among Army leaders
-
Participating
in West Point AOG’s upcoming (annual)
Diversity Leadership Conference
-
Providing
LGBT graduates who have been disenfranchised
in the past with a way to reconnect to the
AOG
-
Establishing
a Knights Out affinity group through the
Association of Graduates
-
Serving as
positive role models to cadets and graduates
The academy has
been ranked in the top tier of National Colleges
in the US News and World Report, and the
Princeton Review. Knights Out believes that its
very existence will help the Academy continue to
recruit America’s best and brightest.
FOR
THE ARMY- One
of the group’s critical aims is to support the
estimated 65,000 gay servicemembers currently in
the armed forces. Being a closeted-gay service
member in the military is extremely difficult
and psychologically damaging. The group
demonstrates that graduates of the world’s
finest military academies also include gays and
lesbians and that their service is not only
compatible with the demands of the armed forces,
their leadership is essential to mission
accomplishment. The group encourages closeted
soldiers and leaders to not only continue their
selfless service but continue to excel in their
leadership roles despite the current policies.
HELP
FROM SISTER ACADEMIES:
Steve Clark Hall,
USNA ’75 has helped tremendously with the
founding of Knights Out. He was recently
recognized as the group’s first “honorary
knight” for his inspiration and assistance. Hall
is a member of USNA Out and is finalizing his
documentary film for early summer release, “Out
of Annapolis.” Organizing members of ‘USNA Out’
and ‘USAFA Blue-Alliance,’ were instrumental in
assisting the Knights Out board. ‘USNA Out’ was
formed in 2003 and Blue-Alliance in 1997. All
are members of the overarching Service Academy
Gay and Lesbian Alumni (SAGALA) network, with
over 340 members, formed in 1994.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES –
Dan Choi,
an Iraq combat veteran who graduated West Point
in 2003 with a degree in Arabic Language and
currently serves as an infantry officer in the
army national guard: “although getting into West
Point wasn’t easy, and completing the four year
program wasn’t any easier, coming out as part of
this group was the easiest decision of my
service because it validates the foundational
lessons of integrity and honor that West Point
preached from day one.”
Stewart Bornhoft,
class of 1969, a Vietnam combat veteran, retired
army colonel who served as an instructor on the
West Point academic faculty and as the
Superintendent’s Aide during the integration of
women in the academy: “Just as we set the
example for the successful integration of the
races and genders, we will have that same
responsibility when our nation joins the family
of 26 other militaries that have implemented the
freedom to serve openly. Knights Out will be
able to assist in the understanding of the many
perspectives involved.”
“In 1977, when
women were in their second year as cadets, my
daughter was born at West Point. At the time, I
was an instructor in the Academic Department and
later became the Aide-de-Camp to LTG Goodpaster,
the Superintendent. I witnessed firsthand the
role that West Point and various female-oriented
organizations played in shaping the military for
the integration of women. It is so encouraging
now to see that, with the establishment of
Knights Out, there will be an organization that
can play a similar role in helping all members
of the military make open, honest, and fully
integrated service a way of life.”
“As a combat
leader from the Vietnam era, having served at
West Point for nine of my 30+ years in uniform,
I am proud to join Knights Out. I believe that
it can contribute to implementing open service
in the US military. We will soon see the repeal
of the discriminatory ban known as Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell, which forces half truths and
deceptive practices.”
Becky Kanis,
class of 1991: "The current "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell" policy requires gay and lesbian soldiers
to sacrifice their integrity in exchange for the
right to serve their country. Allowing this
policy to persist insults and underestimates the
competence of Army leaders from sergeants all
the way to general officers. Knights Out, by
pointing out the hypocrisy of "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell" and proactively planning for a day when
gays and lesbians can openly serve, is filling a
leadership void that is no longer tolerable."
OVERTURN OF DADT- "The Army has received its
Warning Order that the overturn of DADT is
imminent, based on reports that President Obama
has begun consulting his top defense advisers,
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs
of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, on how to
lift a ban on gays serving openly in the
military" stated Paul Morris, Knight's
Out co-founder.
"Warning Orders
are issued to help generals and staff plan for
actions for before they are ordered. President
Obama has made it clear he intends to review and
overturn DADT and end the wasteful policy which
the country has been burdened with for last 16
years. Now is the time for the Army and its
oldest military academy to plan for this
mission, and Knights Out stands ready
to assist." |