West Point Refuses To Readmit Lesbian Cadet

ALBANY - Katherine Miller, a lesbian cadet who resigned from West Point last year when she said she could no longer lie about her sexuality, was recently refused readmission to the academy. This was because, although the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was ended late last year, the repeal is not yet in effect, at least according to West Point.

According to the Associated Press, the repeal "is to go into effect 60 days after the president and senior defense advisers certify that it won't hurt troops' ability to fight. Training for service members began around March 1 and could be finished by summer's end."

This is not good news for Miller, who left West Point just before her junior year. Although she was thriving (she was 9th in her class), she said that keeping her sexuality a secret violated West Point's honor code, and that she couldn't stay silent when classmates made mocking comments about gay people.

Miller transferred to Yale, but missed West Point. She says that she respects West Point's decision, and that she will continue at Yale and pursue a military career through other routes.

In announcing Miller’s rejection, West Point issued a statement explaining that it could not accept Miller because of the still-existing ban, but hinting that reentry would not be a problem for her in the future.