Knights Out

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sue Fulton, Knights Out
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Retired Marine joins Gay West Point grads in disagreeing with Marine Corps Commandant

WEST POINT, NY, February 26, 2010 – One of Knights Out’s newer members – a retired Marine – spoke out after Marine Corps Commandant General James T. Conway expressed his personal opinion this week that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy doesn’t need to be repealed.
“When you’re in combat – and I know, from Vietnam – the last thing on your mind is whether the guy next to you is gay or straight. You just need to know that they can do the job,” said Ronald Washington, former Marine sergeant and Vietnam veteran. “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ – Marines don’t care. They care about the mission.”
Washington, who is straight, joined Knights Out as an ally because he believes that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” should be repealed.
“As a black Marine, I know from experience that the military can be slow to accept change, but I also know that Marines are good and decent people who are able to judge each other on the basis of what counts: character and competence,” said Washington.
The Chair of Knights Out, Becky Kanis, is a 1991 West Point graduate and former Special Operations company commander.  “We are fighting two wars, and our fighting men and women deserve to be honest about their lives,” concluded Kanis.  “Gay and lesbian Soldiers aren’t a distraction – ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is a distraction. Let’s get rid of this policy and get on with defeating Al Qaeda.”
Knights Out also joined a coalition of leading organizations and activists to issue an open letter to the news media demanding that reports on DADT remain accurate and fair. The letter referenced a comprehensive review, published by Media Matters, of the myths and falsehoods media conservatives have pushed in their efforts to prevent a repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law.
http://mediamatters.org/press/releases/201002240015
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Knights Out is a group of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender alumni of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.  Knights Out was formed by a group of gay and lesbian West Pointers in March of this year.  For more, go to http://www.knightsout.org .