Blue Alliance: Air Force Academy Alums Organize LGBT Support & Education Network
At most US colleges and universities, LGBT student and alumni organizations are a standard fixture, contributing to the diversity and rich social fabric that are an essential part of the higher education experience. However, you won’t find LGBT student groups at the US service academies. Because of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," gay and lesbian cadets, midshipmen and officer graduates are required to be secretive about this important aspect of who they are.
In June of this year, 13 alums gathered on a conference call to form Blue Alliance - LGBT Alumni of the US Air Force Academy. And now, after just six months, Blue Alliance has grown to over 70 alumni members.
Blue Alliance is a support and education network for Air Force Academy alumni. Our primary goals are to insure that LGBT Air Force cadets and officers know that they are not alone, and to provide them with more resources to thrive in a hostile environment. Blue Alliance is also developing partnerships with straight allies that work toward improving the environment for LGBT Air Force Academy cadets and graduates.
While there is a lot of work to do, Blue Alliance has greatly benefited from the examples developed by USNA Out and SAGALA and from the support of SLDN.
Off We Go!
- Darrel Slack, USAFA 1985Labels: Service Academies, veterans
-----12-21-07
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