Knights Out: Difference between revisions
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*[http://www.knightsout.org/ Official website] |
*[http://www.knightsout.org/ Official website] |
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*[http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=70265132597&ref=ts Knights Out on Facebook] |
*[http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=70265132597&ref=ts Knights Out on Facebook] |
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==See also== |
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*[[U.S. Military Academy]] |
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*[[USNA Out]] |
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*the [[Blue Alliance]] |
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[[Category:LGBT rights organizations]] |
[[Category:LGBT rights organizations]] |
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Revision as of 20:56, 11 October 2010
 | The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines for companies and organizations. (August 2010) |
Knights Out is an organization of West Point alumni, staff and faculty who support the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people to serve openly in the U.S. military.
History
In January 2009, two USMA alumni, L Paul Morris ’80, and Dan Manning ’04, along with Annapolis graduate Steve Clark Hall, USNA ’75, started work to establish a West Point organization parallel to USNA Out[1], the LGBT alumni association of the United States Naval Academy. At the time, L. Paul Morris was serving as the chair of SAGALA[2], the joint service academy gay and lesbian alumni network, while Dan Manning was the USMA board representative. This led to the founding of Knights Out in March, 2009. Becky Kanis, USMA ’91, agreed to chair the Knights Out Board, and was joined on the Board by L. Paul Morris ’80, Brenda S. “Sue” Fulton ’80, Margaret Wilson '89, Scott Melendez ex-92, Sarah Haag ’03, Dan Manning ’04, and New York National Guard First Lieutenant Daniel Choi, ’03. As spokesperson for the organization in 2009, Daniel Choi gained national attention for challenging the U.S. military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) policy when he came out of the closet on The Rachel Maddow Show.
The core of the membership is represented by the “Out Knights,” graduates and former cadets who are publicly identified on the website as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. USMA graduates and current and former Staff and Faculty who are straight or do not wish to be identified as LGBT can join as Graduate Supporters. All others are encouraged to join as Allies.
The membership has grown from 38 members to more than 400 members and allies, including over 75 Out Knights.
Actions
Since its founding, members of Knights Out have spoken out in support of repealing the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy and to educate their fellow Soldiers and citizens. Knights Out has also worked closely with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and other organizations committed to repeal. Finally, Knights Out members support West Point and the Army by speaking with Academy groups to educate and train leaders in preparation for leading a post-DADT Army.
References
External links