In light of the Tyler Clementi (Rutgers/GWB) incident, USNA Out has added some stronger wording to our “Gouge for Mids” page to emphasize the availability of mental health services for Midshipmen at USNA.
There are only two confirmed and one suspected suicides among Naval Academy LGBT Alumni, all in an era when homosexuality was considered quite differently than in today’s society. This is not saying that it is any easier for some today to come with the understanding of who they are, but the available resources to those “questioning” are vastly improved.
In light of the Tyler Clementi (Rutgers/GWB) incident, USNA Out has added some stronger wording to our “Gouge for Mids” page to emphasize the availability of mental health services for Midshipmen at USNA.
There are only two confirmed and one suspected suicides among Naval Academy LGBT Alumni, all in an era when homosexuality was considered quite differently than in today’s society. This is not saying that it is any easier for some today to come with the understanding of who they are, but the available resources to those “questioning” are vastly improved.
Is suicide a problem at USNA today? Probably not, the Mids who survive at the Academy are pretty mentally tough compared to their civilian peers, although total pressures can be fairly extensive. We believe that the current and recent midshipmen who are “in the group” have a very unique advantage in that they have each other for support. It is the outlier Midshipman who feels alone about whom there is concern.
And would a midshipman look at USNA Out dot org as a resource? (A few mids unfamiliar to us do stumble upon this page periodically, but we do not know why they come here to visit.) So this is probably more of a make us feel good maneuver than a life saver for the alone, distraught mid. But we would be remiss if we did not do everything appropriate we can do to preclude a potentially tragic situation.
You may review the revised “gouge” and of course, feedback is always appreciated here at USNA Out dot org.