Military Schools Hold First Gay Pride Events

What may have been inconceivable just months ago has become a reality as various U.S. military academies hold what are thought to be the first gay pride events in history.

The Associated Press reports Monday that the nation’s oldest private military academy, Norwich University, is hosting events this week about bullying and HIV protection, and even holding a "queer prom," where same-sex partners will be welcome.

Norwich never banned its students from being open about their homosexuality. But many of its students were destined to join the military, and under the yoke of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," which was repealed just six months ago, many of its gay students weren't comfortable with being open about their sexuality.

The AP notes that in the wake of the repeal, other military academies, such as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, have also seen the formation of student LGBT groups similar to the one at Norwich that is organizing this week’s events. And an alumni group at West Point called "Knights Out" will also be holding a campus dinner this weekend.

But not everything is as rosy as may appear. Joshua Fontanez, a gay senior at Norwich who is helping to organize his academy's events, told the Burlington Free Press last week: "We still have those ones who openly say that they don’t think that homosexuality is OK, that it’s a mental disease."

You can read more about this week’s events from the original AP report here.