by John Hughes at armedforces.press
In early April 2023, West Point Superintendent LTG Steven Gilland authorized the following email to all cadets:
“Teammates,
USMA’s Pride Month Observance will take place on Thursday, 27 April 2023 from 1200 -1245. Although a DoD recognized June event, to allow for maximum Cadet participation USMA will observe Pride Month in April. The observance will be held at the West Point Club in the Grand Ballroom. Our guest speaker for this month is CPT Theodore (Ted) Kostich Jr. CPT Kostich is a class of ’14 USMA graduate and current Adjutant General’s Corps Officer serving as the Strength Manager for 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne).
This will be a buffet luncheon event for cadets (125 seats available) as well as staff, faculty, and employees (50 tickets available) from around West Point. The uniform for the observance will be duty uniform or appropriate civilian attire.
Cadets can sign-up through CIS to attend the event. Staff, faculty, and employees can reserve tickets in advance by emailing MSG XXXX or by purchasing them at the USMA EO Office in Taylor Hall, 7th Floor starting 20 April 2023. All reserved tickets can be paid for at the EO Office in advance or at the observance and any unreserved tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event. Tickets are $15.00 cash only, please. Doors will open at 1145 for ticket purchase and buffet line.
Celebrating and recognizing the diversity of both civilian employees and Service members across the Department of Defense (DoD); June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month. It is observed in June to commemorate the riots that occurred in June 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, New York. The event, known as the Stonewall Riots, became the catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world to achieve equal justice and opportunities.
We are looking forward to seeing you there. Please disseminate across your organizations.”
At a recent West Point reunion, graduates confronted West Point’s senior leadership about DEI and its perceived toxic effects on the military. The officer responded to the question with another question – “Isn’t inclusion a good thing?” At face value, the reply is ludicrous, merely avoiding the minefield of DEI by patronizing the ethics of most patriotic and decent Americans. Since the founding of the US, Americans have learned to get along and accept those in our lands and military. Admittedly it has not been smooth, but progress takes place. This is no different than observable friction in every other country in the world. Assimilation into America’s great ‘melting pot’ has been the goal and end state – until now. Instead, America and its once great military are going backwards, descending into tribalism and identity politics as not a means to an end but an end it itself.
Servicemembers are encouraged to form cliques along racial and sexual identity lines. This mirrors civilian universities that are unveiling dorms that are restricted to certain ethnic and sexual identities and multiple graduations to appeal to each of its sexual and racial subgroups. Disunity is the new norm. ‘Separate but equal’ is making a comeback under the guise of cultural ‘progress.’ And LTG Gilland is letting this happen.