A great tailgate
with great friends

For the fifth consecutive year, the rainbow flag was flying high and proud in the parking lot of the Army-Navy game. Even out of our element of Philadelphia, we still attained one of our larger LGBT tailgates in Army-Navy history. With many thanks to Sue Fulton and the Knights Out for organizing, there was ample BBQ, rolls, coleslaw, beer, bottled water, mimosas, and hot cider.

It was a full weekend of events, except for nap time right after the game where Navy remained unbeaTEN in a decade long string of wins over Army.

USNA Out members log in to read details of the weekend in DC.

Some exciting and interesting news from Annapolis:

At the Board of Trustees meeting on December 8th, Linda Postenreider '82 was announced as one of two alumni chosen by the nominations committee to run for the Western region trustee. She is running against a member of the San Diego Chapter, Chris Cooke '81.

The USNA/Naval Station Annapolis Sailor of the Quarter was a pettty officer first class. At the ceremony where he was recognized by the Supe, he had his same sex partner there with him.

The Brigade rings an exact replica of the Japanese Bell, the original was was brought
back to the United States by Commodore Matthew Perry following his mission to
Japan in 1855 but returned to the Japanese people in the 1980s. The bell was rung
in the annual ceremony for Navy's victory at the Army–Navy Game plus the other fall
sports where Navy varsity athletes won their N*'s.

Exams start next week.

A lot more is included in a members only report, USNA Out members please log in to read a complete report.

GO navy!

USNA Out members should all have received the December eNewsletter via email. If you missed this edition or inadvertently deleted it, USNA Out members can find a link to the December edition under the Members Tab when logged in.

If you aren't yet a member of USNA Out and are eligible to join us, please register so that you can get the latest news from USNA Out.

It was a great weekend, despite the heartbreaking game in San Jose.

USNA Out members please log in to read the detailed report of the weekend.

Go Navy! Beat Army!

SMU GALLOP has invited USNA Out to join them in Dallas at the Navy SMU game.

From the Chair of SMU GALLOP

“We look forward to hosting our new friends from the Naval Academy & other Armed Services branches, and hope to see you in Dallas in November! Many thanks,” Brian

USNA Out members log in to see event details.

Raising the Gay Flag
at USAFA

As the one and only “squid” present, I had the honor of representing USNA Out at the second annual Blue-Alliance (BA) Celebration of Equality Dinner in Colorado Springs. The event was held in conjunction with the Army-Air Force game and was preceded by the first ever USAFA gay tailgate. The dinner was held onboard the Academy grounds in Doolittle Hall, the USAFA AOG (equivalent to our Alumni Association) headquarters building. I was very welcomed to participate in all events of the weekend.

USNA Out members log in to read details of this great weekend.

USNA Out Members,

The fall is off to a uniquely exciting start, beginning with the end of DADT on 20 September. I'm very proud to announce that our counterpart organization at the US Air Force Academy, The Blue Alliance, was officially recognized on 21 September by the USAFA Association Of Graduates as an OFFICIAL AFFINITY GROUP. Well done, Blue-Alliance!

Linda Postenrieder USNA '82 and Steve Clark Hall USNA '75 were the first two at USNA to learn the news. Chatting with the USAFA AOG CEO William “T” Thompson in Annapolis, Steve asked if he had ever heard of the Blue-Alliance. “T” grinned and said “They are our newest official affinity group at USAFA and they are having their annual event in my building next month.” “T” went on to say that this came after a lumpy beginning involving another outside organization. The Blue-Alliance is the first Academy LGBT Alumni group to be officially recognized by their respective alumni association. BRAVO ZULU Blue-Alliance!

At midnight tonight (EDT) a new era for LGBT service in the military begins. No words can effectively express the special significance this end has to each and every one of us. I will spend the evening at the Stonewall Inn with close and new friends alike. Whether you participate in a joyous or just a quiet minute of reflection, enjoy the momentous occasion!!

Although a new beginning, the mission of USNA Out remains steadfastly the same, “Changing Minds & Lives of Alumni & Midshipmen.”

We have updated our website for this new age. The extensive revisions on our Gouge for Mids page were a very poignant reminder of how the policy was so horribly intertwined with the daily lives of midshipmen and junior officers. We still have a long way to go to achieve full equality and acceptance within the military, but change takes time and effort. I urge all of you to continue that effort, by remaining visible and active.

Many of our members are getting together Tuesday evening to celebrate, reflect and welcome in a new era. We have a list of locations of get-togethers on our website at http://usnaout.org/09202011-hats-dadt

Brian Bender
Chair, USNA Out, Inc.
http://usnaout.org/faces/brian

As USNA Out members, you and your friends are invited...

None of us have seen this yet, but we have heard from the director that several of our members are featured in the film.

Please join USNA Out members around the country as we join our friends to welcome in a new era beyond "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Please note that these events are open to all (typically 21 and over, however), you should have no expectation of privacy when you attend. It is also possible that there would be media coverage at some of these events.

Events are on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 unless otherwise noted.

See the full list of events around the country.

USNA Out is proud to be a co-sponsor of the

Gala Performance to End Bullying

Saturday, May 14th at 8PM
Marines Memorial Theater
609 Sutter Street (at Mason)

click on the image below to buy tickets

the CASTRO MARQUEE

The largest study ever conducted about LGBT Officers in the United States Navy and an accompanying documentary film.

The “OUT of ANNAPOLIS” project began in summer 2008, an undertaking with every aspect of the project being performed by USNA Out members. The project includes both the largest study ever conducted of the LGBT Officers in the Navy and an accompanying 71 minute documentary film.

“OUT of ANNAPOLIS chronicles the experiences of dozens of LGBT alumni – from diverse eras, backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and warfare specialties – all through interviews, live footage, photos, and supporting facts and figures. The film aims to educate by providing a factual and representative account of the Naval Academy and military experiences of LGBT alumni, both before and during the era of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The film is currently being exhibited in selected film festivals in markets throughout the United States.

The “OUT of ANNAPOLIS” Study provided an in-depth look at who the LGBT alumni are as a group. This summary represents considerations from more than 200 alumni to date.

The most important finding in the study:

The overwhelming majority of those Midshipmen, former Midshipmen and alumni who now identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender did not identify as such when they entered the service. They were “on their own” to go through the “coming out process” while in the close quarters and sometimes unwelcoming environment of the Naval Academy or the fleet, with little resources and few others like themselves with whom they could confide.

Out film OUT of ANNAPOLIS had its USNA debut on Monday, 25 April in the Mahan Hall auditorium. The Naval Academy was the second federal service academy to screen the film, after an earlier screening in New London, Connecticut, at the US Coast Guard Academy.

USNA Out members log in to read a detailed report of the screening.

For another perspective, read the Annapolis Trident Newspaper article which appeared on page four of the graduation week edition.