How many members are there in USNA Out?

as of 1 March 2011, we have 212 members, 181 of those have told us that they identify as LGBT. For more info, please see more about who we are.

So there are only 180 lesbian and gay alumni of the US Naval Academy?

No, there are 180 LGBT members of USNA Out. There are now over 360 identified LGBT Alumni of the Naval Academy, including 22 deceased alumni. However, many of our shipmates feel that they need to remain closeted as they are still serving on active duty or for professional or personal reasons they cannot “come out” as LGBT. Yes, there is still workplace discrimination even in the civilian work place, perceived and real.

How many gay and lesbian midshipmen are there currently at the Naval Academy?

We do not know. It is not within the mission of USNA Out to directly foster relationships with midshipmen, straight or gay, although some of our members do act as “sponsors” or mentors.

Why didn't USNA Out do more to fight “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell?”

Many of our individual members were very active in fighting for the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” but did so as individuals and members of other organizations which lobbying for policy change was a mission of the organization, such as the Service Academy Gay and Lesbian Alumni NETwork (SAGALA.net), the Servicemen's Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

Our mission is pretty clear and focused. We are here to support the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. We have worked hard to bring back many of the disenfranchised LGBT alumni who over time have felt disassociated from the U.S. Naval Academy and the Alumni Association because of their sexual or gender identity.

What is the relationship between USNA Out and any gay or lesbian Midshipmen at the US Naval Academy?

USNA Out does not formally interface with the Brigade of Midshipmen. We are aware that some of our members are involved in “mentoring” type relationships, particularly in a few unfortunate cases where the midshipmen have been rejected by their own families because of their sexual identity.

How can one tell looking at your website who are the gays/lesbians and who are your straight “allies?”

You can't, unless the members states their sexual identity in their Faces of USNA Out Project profile. Not even our members currently have access to that data on the membership roster. Membership in USNA Out is open to all alumni of the US Naval Academy.

Does USNA Out continue to seek “Chapter Status” with the Naval Academy Alumni Association?

No. The request for a gay chapter is a part of our past. USNA Out is a “shared interest group” (SIG) and as such, we are one of the most organized and active SIGs at the Academy. The Board of Trustees of the Naval Academy Alumni Association has not yet adopted the SIG model now in use within the alumni associations of other universities. Once the model is accepted at Navy, we think it would be in the best interests of the Naval Academy and Alumni Association to recognize USNA Out as a shared interest group.