Norwich University, Nation's Oldest Private Military College, To Hold First Gay Pride Week

Now that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is no longer the law of the land, the nation's oldest private military academy is celebrating its first gay pride week.

Norwich University's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Allies club (NULGBTQA) will host events during the week of March 26-31, with a day for celebrations or issue discussions for each of the six colors on the gay pride flag.

On Saturday, they'll have the school's first Queer Prom where Army Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan and Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin will speak. Morgan publicly announced she was gay the day the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law was repealed.

Joshua Fontanez, NULGBTQA president and a senior member of the Norwich University Corps of Cadets, said in a release the events will express and demonstrate equality throughout the Norwich community, and attempt to educate the public on challenges and issues faced by members of the LGBT community.

The NULGBTQA was founded on Sept. 20, 2011, the day that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was officially repealed. According to a press release from the group, they were the first LGBTQ group on a military campus.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was the policy prohibiting gay and lesbian military service members from openly declaring their sexual orientation.

The Boston Globe notes Norwich is the birthplace of the nation’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

The group told Vermont Public Radio that holding gay pride events on their campus follows the military's tradition of leadership.

"The repeal [of Don't Ask, Don't Tell] is bringing a new wave of equality," Fontanez told VPR, "a new wave of rights that so many generations have been waiting for."

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Comments

[FaceFart]

10:48 PM on 07/20/2012

So does that mean people will start marrying their pets in 30 years from now?

[onepercentincomeearner]

02:06 AM on 06/01/2012

that sucking sound is alumni pulling their donations (and the gays lol)

[onepercentincomeearner]

01:56 AM on 06/01/2012

when is straight pride week? LOL

[mounthood]

02:38 PM on 05/19/2012

One more reason I'm proud to be a resident of the Green Mountain State.

[wayneoscarbry]

10:39 PM on 05/09/2012

I THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" POLICY. IT WAS GOOD FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. WE ARE IN THE MILITARY TO PREPARE TO DEFEND OUR NATION, NOT TO BE SOOOO CONCERNED ABOUT ANYONE'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION. THIS WILL ONLY OPEN UP A WHOLE LOT OF CAN OF WORMS. KEEP YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION PREFERENCE TO YOURSELF!!!

[Atwill]

06:16 PM on 06/09/2012

Then you agree that all should keep theri sexual orientation ot themselves, or be kicked out. even straights.

[Ron Wuhrl]

03:57 PM on 04/08/2012

Absolutely disgraceful that this would occur -- I encourage all alumni to contact the school and let their feelings be known

[Downtown Seattle]

10:25 PM on 04/06/2012

As an Active Duty Officer in the military, professionalism is held in the highest esteem across each service. Your religion, race, sexual preference, or other qualities that make you who you are as a person hold no bearing on one's ability to be an effective leader.

The US Military has almost always been at the forefront of social change in America and I take pride in being part of an Organization who has a longstanding history of adapting to our changing culture. From the integration of African Americans into full service at a time when America still did not support integration, up to and including the long overdue repeal of DADT, the US Military has long supported change.

While events such as "Condom Olympics" are acceptable in most arenas, they are innappropriate in any military setting. It does not matter if the event is sponsored by the Crew Club, Chess Club, or any other organization at Norwich. The fact of the matter remains that the hosting of the events of the aforementioned titles are not consistent with military values. The University was correct to allow the NULGBTQA to be formed and I support that decision. There is a reason this hasn't generated a story until now. Because before late March, no events took place which smacked of unprofessionalism nor in any way detracted from the mission of the University to train future Officers.

[BigbyWolf]

10:43 AM on 05/04/2012

As a bisexual NCO, I have to agree Sir. It's great that this university is accepting and embracing gay military students - and the overall response by the forces in general to the repeal has been good - but events like this do nothing for our "cause" and reek of unprofessionalism. In a twisted sort of way, this is what some opponents of the repal predicted would happen. If I saw a group of straight soldiers doing this, I'd smoke the @#$% out of them...

[talkstocoyotes]

12:22 PM on 03/30/2012

Wonderful way to commemorate the demise of DADT.

[jonyoung23]

02:06 AM on 03/30/2012

I have to agree. I support Gay Rights and believe that gays should be allowed to live freely without fear of being demonized. However, when 30 something students decide to tarnish our reputation by hosting a "Queer Prom" and "Condom Olympics" that is where I have to draw the line. All of this makes me sad. Norwich has a long history of producing alumni with successful and distinguished careers in both the military and civilian world. Now donors have withdrawn their support, which is bound to increase an already high tuition. This school and its students are being ridiculed on countless websites, chat rooms, and tweets. All of this is because a tiny percentage of its students decided to make a mockery of serious issue in this country. To all readers, please do not judge this school or its students because of the embarrassing actions of a few.

[Nick Elwell]

01:14 AM on 03/29/2012

I am a student at Norwich and i do not have a problem with someones decisions to be gay. It is their decision and i respect it just like i would want them to respect mine. But when someones decisions are effecting the school reputation, sports teams, clubs, careers, and my bank account, this is when i get mad. Some people do not yet know that this school has just lost 2.5million dollars because alumni have pulled out their money, and im sure there is more to come. Tuition is being increased for the students and it is high enough as it is. Now i believe there is a right way to do something and there is also a wrong way. When the club has tables set up in front of the meal hall asking if people want condoms that have two gay lovers on them or fliers with info on them i just say no thank you with a smile and keep walking. But when they are asking future students who have their parents with them, this is a step to far. These are potential students who have taken a day out of their high school class with their parents who are being confronted and asked if they want to be part of this. These parents are not going to send their kids to a school like this! This effects everything the school has to offer.

[Razpooten]

09:38 PM on 03/27/2012

And next year we will have the 1st Annual National Pride Fest Parade led by gay veterans.

[Garrett Kennedy]

04:44 PM on 03/27/2012

This is preposterous. I go to Norwich and I have no qualms with the club or anyones orientation cause it's their business, but this has nothing to do with being gay or gay pride, its foul. Condoms are used by straight people too, and there's no reason to make such a crass display of rude sexuality becuase it does nothing to help anyone. The people who you want to convince are the ones already opposed to homosexuality and a stunt like this does nothing but push their support farther out of reach. Not to mention that this is a stain that everyone at the University will have to live with even if they had nothing to do with it. The future alumni are the graduates who are going to go to a job interview and hear: "so I see you went to that gay military school". Its like a child got his hands on a bottle of ketchup and is flinging it all over the walls for attention.

[Razpooten]

09:40 PM on 03/27/2012

Hmm, I wonder what kind of rude sexual behaviour you practice? @Garrett Kennedy.

[persuter]

01:43 AM on 03/28/2012

If anyone you interview with has ever even heard of this incident, I would be extremely surprised. Try to keep a sense of perspective.

[Albert Jenkin]

09:21 AM on 03/27/2012

Someone is showing good sense in adding "Questioning" to that litany. More than one young person has wondered if they are odd, different, phrase it as you will. Best advice from a gay acquintance is that if you don't KNOW you're gay, you're probobly not. Still. it's smart to answer questions. And, to ask quewstions.

[rogkauf]

11:56 PM on 03/26/2012

I've been out since 1977, and it's actually remarkable how the world has changed.
This would have been unheard of back then...or even recently!

[Olethea]

11:39 PM on 03/26/2012

I hope every one of these students know that one of the top issues for republicans is to get this archaic bill reinstated.

You can't move forward with a republican.