USNA Out: Difference between revisions

USNA Out
	The international maritime OSCAR signal flag - indicating "Man Overboard" - with Trident
Formation	2003 in San Francisco
Type	501(c)(3)
Legal status	Non Profit Public Benefit Corporation
Purpose	Philanthropic
Headquarters	Annapolis, MD United States
Membership	c. 200
Chairman of the Board	Brian C. Bender ’93
Staff	1 full time/0 paid
Website	USNAOut.org

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 07:54, 17 January 2011

USNA Out is an American non-profit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Alumni of the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. USNA Out is an independent 501(c)(3) organization that does not represent the U. S. Naval Academy Alumni Association nor the U. S. Naval Academy.

History

The group was initially formed in 2003 when 35 LGBT alumni of the Naval Academy petitioned the USNA Alumni Association for special status as a non-geographic chapter of the Alumni Association, similar to the association's RV chapter. The initial request was rejected on multiple grounds.^[1]

The organization continued to increase membership and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in the State of Maryland in September, 2009. In November 2009 USNA Out realigned the leadership structure to support the growing membership of over 200.^[2] The organization now comprises an unofficial "affinity group" among the U. S. Naval Academy Alumni. The organization incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in the State of Maryland in September, 2009.

On December 22, 2010, USNA Out founding member Commander Zoe Dunning, USNR (Ret.), stood alongside President Barack Obama as he signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.^[3]

Mission

USNA Out provides a path for "reconnection" for the many GLBT USNA alumni who have over time been disassociated from the U. S. Naval Academy and the USNA Alumni Association because of their sexuality or gender identity. By maintaining visibility, the members of the organization become role models for current Midshipmen, parents and family of midshipmen and for other alumni serving in the fleet.^[4]

Although many USNA Out members worked to end to the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, political activism is not within the mission of the organization. ^[5]

Outreach

In 2007, under direction of Commander Steve Clark Hall, USN (Ret.), members of USNA Out began the "OUT of ANNAPOLIS Project" with a goal of putting human faces and personalities to the LGBT alumni. The project included a detailed study of the alumni to establish who the alumni were as a group. It also included online profiles numerous alumni for the purpose of becoming "role models" for current midshipmen at the academy and junior officers in the fleet.^[6] In June, 2008, the OUT of ANNAPOLIS Project expanded to include a documentary film by the project title, OUT of ANNAPOLIS.^[7]^[8] The film produced and directed by Hall^[9] opened at the SVA Theater in New York in June, 2010.

One of the more revealing facts from the OUT of ANNAPOLIS study was the that only one in six of those who enter the academy identify as LGBT at the time they enter.^[10] The remaining 83% re-identify as LGBT while at the academy, in the fleet, or as civilians after completion of their service.

References

^ "Naval Academy Alumni Disallow Gay Chapter". Los Angeles Times. 2003-12-06. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
^ USNA Out website
^ Bacon, Jr., Perry (2010-12-22). "Obama signs DADT repeal before big, emotional crowd". Washington Post.
^ USNA Out mission
^ USNA Out website
^ USNA Out Faces Project
^ Marech, Rona (2008-12-21). "USNA alumni asking and telling". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
^ Kelly, Earl (2009-01-27). "Film documents gay life at Naval Academy". The Annapolis Capital. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
^ Out of Annapolis (2010) at IMDb
^ Out of Annapolis Movie website

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 *the [[blue alliance|Blue Alliance]]
 *[[Joseph Steffan]]
+*[[Vernon Edward (Copy) Berg, III]]
 [[Category:United States Naval Academy]]