Dear Fellow Grads, Cadets, and Friends of Knights Out,

I was angry and disheartened to learn that the West Point Directorate of Cadet Activities issued guidance late yesterday afternoon to disband Spectrum, in addition to several other important affinity groups.

As a founding member of Spectrum and the first Cadet in Charge, I know very well the importance of this club to cadets, grads, and faculty.

Knights Out will advocate for Spectrum’s reinstatement - full stop. However, our mission has always been, first and foremost, to support the people behind the club—the cadets, faculty, alumni, and allies who make our community stronger.

Before Spectrum’s founding, Knights Out provided safety, community, and help to LGBTQI+ cadets and alumni who had formed informal “underground” communities under the constraints of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” and the trans service ban. We will continue to support our people; that will never change.

Knights Out is an independent nonprofit and we will continue to advocate for open and inclusive service regardless of the policies established by the Academy or the administration.

Please reach out to Director@knightsOut.org if you have questions, suggestions, or resources you’d like to make available to our cadets or active duty colleagues - your support is more important now than ever.

This is a painful moment for our community, but I couldn't ask for a more courageous group of people to fight alongside.


-Drew


Respectfully,

Drew Fitzsimmons
Executive Director
Knights Out
USMA ‘14