Former cadet shines light on hidden gay culture at West Point

WEST POINT, N.Y.

Code words, secret societies, covert meetings, fake identities: These are tools that a certain set of cadets learn here at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. These cadets are not spies or moles. They are gay, and they exist largely in the shadows of this granite institution known for producing presidents and generals, where staying closeted is essential to avoid discharge under the country's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on military service.

"The most important thing I've learned here is how to be a good actor," said one gay male cadet, who grew up in Philadelphia and is in his fourth year at the academy.

The resignation this month of Katherine Miller, a top cadet who blogged anonymously about being a lesbian, has turned a spotlight on the hidden gay culture here and revived debate on campus about "don't ask, don't tell," at a time when Washington is also focused on the issue.

Miller, who wrote under the name "Private Second Class Citizen" about enduring gay slurs and faking a heterosexual dating history, is transferring to Yale University this fall.

Interviews with three gay cadets, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because revealing their identities could result in expulsion, as well as conversations with Miller and several gay alumni, painted a portrait of a vibrant, if tiny, gay underground at West Point. The hiding begins on Day 1: New cadets must sign a document acknowledging that revealing one's homosexuality can lead to discharge, as can demonstrating "a propensity to engage in homosexual acts."

Asked about gay culture at West Point, Lt. Col. Brian Tribus, the academy's director of public affairs, issued a statement saying that the school "will continue to apply the law as it is obligated to do," but also noting that cadets must take military ethics classes that include "topics about unconditional positive respect for others."

For gay cadets, repressing their sexuality is just one part of adapting to West Point, where life is regimented and lived mostly in uniform. Romance of any kind can be difficult: the 4,400 cadets, who live in one complex of large barracks and eat together at huge weekday breakfasts and lunches in Washington Hall, are allowed to date but not to kiss or hold hands while in uniform. "It's like living in a snow globe," said one lesbian cadet, who is in her third year.

But she and others said the lack of social freedom only primed the active social grapevine at the academy. They said that they knew at least 20 lesbian cadets (West Point is about 15 percent female), and that when a friend recently drew a diagram showing who had had relationships with whom, it revealed a tight web.

Trying to divine other lesbians takes "really finely tuned gaydar," said another lesbian cadet, who is a senior, or "firstie." There are code words and test phrases: "Are you family?" refers to inclusion in the lesbian sisterhood. Or cadets might throw out references to the TV show "The L Word" to gauge the response.

The two lesbian cadets described all this at 9 p.m. one day last week at Jefferson Library, amid dozens of classmates dressed in immaculately pressed gray uniforms, sitting up straight and studying textbooks. Both said they had been openly gay in high school but found gay socializing nearly impossible during the strict first year at West Point, then began to confide in a tight group of loyal friends as liberties increased.

"Anyone you meet here," the senior female cadet said, "you have to assess their personality very closely, and see if you can trust them."

Even fending off advances from male cadets can create problems. "You can't say, 'Sorry guys, I'm gay,'" the senior said. "And if I say, 'I have a boyfriend,' I'm breaking the honor code."

Breaching the Cadet Honor Code - "a cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do" - can result in serious discipline.

Miller, 20, a sociology major from Findlay, Ohio, said she decided to leave West Point after two years because she grew tired of hiding.

"It was a whirlpool of lies - I was violating the honor code every time I socialized," she said in an interview.

Miller, who ranked 17th in her West Point class, wrote in her Aug. 9 resignation letter: "I have lied to my classmates and compromised my integrity and my identity by adhering to existing military policy. I am unwilling to suppress an entire portion of my identity any longer."