the organization of LGBT Naval Academy Alumni & Allies
USNA Out is proud to be a co-sponsor of the
Saturday, May 14th at 8PM
Marines Memorial Theater
609 Sutter Street (at Mason)
click on the image below to buy tickets
Continue reading “5/14/2010 – Darren Criss (glee) & Yale GALA”
We are excited that our documentary film OUT of ANNAPOLIS has been chosen to be a part of the 2014 Annapolis Film Festival (AFF)! With this screening, the film has gone full circle through the film festival circuit from the world premier in New York and the spectacular screening in the Castro Theatre of San Francisco in Frameline 33.
The screening of OUT of ANNAPOLIS will be at 3pm on Saturday, March 29, at the Compass Rose Theater, a 75 seat venue – intimate and a great setting for discussion. OUT of ANNAPOLIS is one of three films in an LGBT series which will also include The New Black and a documentary biographical portrait of Harris Glenn Milstead, the star actor of many films by Baltimore director John Waters, I Am Divine.
For more details about the Annapolis Film Festival, visit the Annapolis Film Festival Website
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.
“When will the repeal actually happen?” (answer: )
“How will USNA enforce the ‘open door’ policy for rooms with same sex couples?” (answer: “can’t”)
“Can gays get married in the Chapel?” (Answer: “No” …. well… not yet)
“What if a male midshipman wants to wear women’s clothes?” (answer: “this is addressed in Uniform Regs”)
“Can two dudes kiss each other on the pier when a ship departs and returns from deployment like the straight service members can kiss their spouses or girlfriends/boyfriends?” (answer: “Yes, get used to it.”)
Continue reading “4/30/2011 – Top Ten Questions asked at the Tier III DADT Repeal Training”
USNA Out asked all four candidates a few questions pertaining on how they envision USNA Out can better serve the Naval Academy Alumni Association and the U. S. Naval Academy. All four candidates have responded, and we have placed their responses here on our homepage for all to read.
The candidates biographies are published on pages 33-34 of the January-February 2011 edition of SHIPMATE Magazine
Central Region (AL AR IL IA IN KS KY LA MI MN MO MS ND NE OH OK SD TN TX WI + Caribbean) ELECTION UNDER INVESTIGATION
Eastern Region (CT DE FL GA MA ME NC NH NJ NY PA RI SC VT WV)
If you reside in the Central or Eastern Region, you will receive a ballot via mail for the 2011 Board of Trustees election in late February. Ballots will be sent to regular USNA Alumni Association members as of 31 December 2010 byVR Election Services with complete voting instructions for mail, phone and internet options. USNA OUT thanks all USNA Alumni Association members in advance for participating in the process in support of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.
The election closes 14 April 2011 by 1700 Central Time.
USNA Out members when logged into the website can see USNA Out’s analysis of the election in the right sidebar when viewing this page. None of the current candidates are members of USNA Out.
[status as of 072359Z MAR 11]
Continue reading “2011 USNA Alumni Association Board of Trustees Election”
Many USNA Out members in the San Francisco Bay Area will be attending the George P. Shultz Lecture Series with Admiral Gary Roughead at the Marines’ Memorial Association at 5:30 pm on Wednesday 16 February 2011. Admiral Roughead is the 29th Chief of Naval Operations. He was in the 28th Company while a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, graduating with the Class of ‘73. Copy Berg ’74 and Steve Clark Hall ’75 were also in the 28th Company at the same time.
Event Details and online registration.
Continue reading “2/16/2011 – CNO at the Marine’s Club – San Francisco”
John “Rip” Fliszar USNA ’71 (L)
with husband Mark Ketterson
Many of us noted the obituary for John “Rip” Fliszar USNA ’71 in the November Shipmate Magazine written by his husband, Mark Ketterson. Although we never had the pleasure of meeting John, we placed his name on our in memoriam page here at USNA Out dot org. As we were simultaneously attempting to reach out to Mark, he contacted to us after he stumbled across our website. His poignant note to us is quoted:
I stumbled upon USNA OUT quite by accident and saw Rip (John) listed. I had no idea this site existed; nor did he, and I am sick over that as it would have meant the world to him. I have indeed read through it, and it’s amazing.
Continue reading “John “Rip” Fliszar, USNA ’71 {1949 – 2010}”
“I welcome today’s vote by the Senate clearing the way for a legislative repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ law.
“Once this legislation is signed into law by the President, the Department of Defense will immediately proceed with the planning necessary to carry out this change carefully and methodically, but purposefully. This effort will be led by Dr. Clifford Stanley, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and himself a retired Marine Corps major general and infantry officer.
“The legislation provides that repeal will take effect once the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that implementation of the new policies and regulations written by the Department is consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces. As I have stated before, I will approach this process deliberately and
will make such certification only after careful consultation with the military service chiefs and our combatant commanders and when I am satisfied that those conditions have been met for all the Services, commands and units.
“It is therefore important that our men and women in uniform understand that while today’s historic vote means that this policy will change, the implementation and certification process will take an additional period of time. In the meantime, the current law and policy will remain in effect.
Continue reading “(updated) Secretary Gates on Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’”
Many thanks to those who provided input so that we could develop the USNA Out goals for 2011 in support of our mission.
I believe that we have developed a very aggressive set of goals for USNA Out to accomplish in 2011, and I have no doubt that with the dedicated effort of many of our members that we will be able to fulfill our expectations.
Midshipmen, Alumni and Naval Academy Support – Support the Naval Academy and Brigade of Midshipmen:
Members – connect and network with each other:
Fundraising – Raise funds for USNA Out and the Naval Academy Foundation:
Organizational Development – strengthening the USNA Out organization:
We know there is much additional work to be done for USNA Out to remain in step with the forthcoming changes as the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy sunsets.
Continue reading “2011 Goals”
This video is the full press conference where President Obama signs legislation to eliminate DADT. USNA Out member and SLDN Board Co-Chair CDR Zoe Dunning, USNR (Ret.) is recognized by the President from the podium for her service and is asked to stand next to him as he signs the legislation. She is the woman who gets the first hug as the President crosses the stage, and at the end of the video during the signing, she stands between Vice President Biden and President Obama.
Continue reading “12/22/2010 – USNA Out Member Zoe Dunning ’85 Stands Next to President at Signing”
the New Blue-Alliance.org website home page
The Blue-Alliance, our counterpart alumni association at the U. S. Air Force Academy has just launched an all-new website. The Blue-Alliance was founded in 2007. We congratulate the Blue-Alliance for establishing this visible web presence and wish them continued success in their mission.
Because our webmasters are now sharing concepts and challenging each other’s creativity, USNA Out will also benefit from the added energy of the Blue Alliance web development team. Visit their website and get to know and understand our counterparts of the U. S. Air Force.
Go Navy!
Continue reading “10/4/2010 – Blue-Alliance Launches new Website”
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.
Again our personal thanks to each of you for participating in the OUT of ANNAPOLIS study on the first call for inputs.
This page expired 5/21/2010.
Any further questions, please contact Steve@usnaout.org
Are you willing and eager to take on a leadership role amongst your LGBT Alumni peers?
The USNA Out Board of Directors is comprised of members representing the diverse professional backgrounds and academy year groups of our membership. The Board of Directors, though inputs from our membership, provide the energy and guidance for the organization so that we can best fulfill our mission. The Board is also joined by non-voting Board Advisors who liaise with the US Naval Academy faculty, staff and midshipmen and other organizations. Please let one of our board members know that you want to step forward and contribute to make USNA Out the great organization that it is.
Since our last newsletter, USNA Out has lost the following members:
Note: Suicide remains the number one cause of death amongst our members who have graduated less than 40 years ago.
Don’t forget to RSVP for our annual grand event on Sunday 6 May!
Continue reading “Next Newsletter”
Alumni gather in
Annapolis for Dinner ’10
Continue reading “4/24/2010 – Annual USNA Out Alumni Dinner in Annapolis”
