From www.ntouchaz.com

Statement on West Point’s Decision to Deny Former Cadet Katie Miller Readmission

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Apr 27, 2011 - 4:46:48 PM

New York, NY – Anu Bhagwati, a former Marine Corps Captain and executive director of the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), a national human rights organization founded and led by women veterans, reacted to today’s decision by the United States Military Academy at West Point to deny readmission of former cadet Katie Miller by declaring that, “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is still alive and well.” The Associated Press reported earlier today that Academy officials stated they reached the only decision they could, because “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is still currently the law.

“Even though ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal was signed into law more than four months ago, today the USMA still rejected one of its best and brightest for no other reason than because she is a lesbian,” said Anu Bhagwati, a former Marine Corps Captain and executive director of Service Women’s Action Network. “Because Katie Miller was denied readmission to West Point, the US Army has lost a talented officer, and a woman who would have served as an inspirational leader and role model to thousands of soldiers, women and men alike.”

SWAN’s executive director and former Marine Corps Captain Anu Bhagwati, has spoken twice this year to cadets at West Point regarding issues relating to sexual assault, gender discrimination and homophobia. Bhagwati’s first appearance was on January 25th, 2011 as part of the Margaret Corbin lecture series where she presented a speech titled, “Sex Matters: What Every Leader Needs to Know.” Bhagwati also participated in a sexual harassment panel discussion on April 8th at West Point’s “Gender Justice: Toward Achieving Equality” conference.

“Despite the euphoria from the bill’s passage and signing into law, the reality is that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is still alive and well,” Bhagwati continued. “Women can’t serve openly, and they are still subjected to daily sexual harassment, lesbian-baiting and discrimination.”

Over the more than 17 years that the law has been on the books, multiple studies have shown that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law disproportionately affects women and people of color. For a full review and analysis of the research contained in SWAN’s “LGBT Women in the Military” fact sheet, please visit: http://servicewomen.dreamhosters.com/

Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) is a national human rights organization founded and led by women veterans. SWAN’s vision is to transform military culture by securing equal opportunity and the freedom to serve in uniform without threat of harassment, discrimination, intimidation or assault. SWAN also seeks to reform veterans' services on a national scale to guarantee equal access to quality health care, benefits and resources for women veterans and their families. You can follow Service Women’s Action Network on Twitter at http://twitter.com/servicewomen, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/servicewomen.