West Point Grads Form
Gay Support Group

Thirty-Eight graduates of the U.S. Military at West Point came out with the announcement that they are forming a support group with an offer to help their alma mater educate future Army leaders on the need to accept and honor the sacrifices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops.

According to the Navy Times , "Knights Out" would like to form a connection between gay troops and Army administrators, particularly at West Point, to provide an "open forum" for communication between gay West Point graduates and their fellow alumni.

The group also hopes to serve an advisory role for West Point leaders in the event "don't ask, don't tell" is repealed.

"We're publicly announcing our sexuality, our orientation," said 1st Lt. Dan Choi (pictured), a National Guardsman with the 1st Bn., 69th Infantry, based in Manhattan. "It's just one part of who we are in saying that we are standing to be counted."

Knights Out joins similar groups formed by graduates of the U.S. Naval and Air Force academies, including the U.S. Naval Academy's USNA Out and the U.S. Air Force Academy's Blue Alliance.