What It's Like To Be A Lesbian Cadet At West Point
LatestThis week, cadet Katherine Miller resigned from West Point in protest of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. She’d been blogging anonymously for Velvet Park about being a lesbian in the military; here, an entry from before she came out publicly.
West Point summers are reserved solely for military training, but the academic year is a combination of mandated military and scholarly events. Emailing is a perfect distraction during our evening study periods. Below is a snippet of my conversation with a male classmate, who offered insight to what my male counterparts were saying about me.
Cadet:: Don’t be so mean to me! I’ll… I’ll… I’ll… I don’t know. Let your secret out to the company?
Me: That I’m a whore or that I’m a lesbian? Because female cadets only fall into one category or the other here. No exceptions, apparently.
Cadet: Facts matter little in a smear campaign. I’ll decide when it comes to that point.
Me: I’m not too worried. You have no proof on either.
Cadet: Well, since you said you were one of the two choices… and since almost every guy in the company has tried to hook up with you… and since rumors fly… and since I haven’t heard any wild hook up rumors about you… I think it can logically be deduced… Don’t worry; your secret is safe with me
Me: Are you accusing me of being a lesbian?!
Cadet: What?! When did I accuse you of anything?!!? Accuse and lesbian both have such derogatory connotations, I can’t believe you are implying either in reference to me….