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At some point today, when the morning commute's been rough or work's a drag or the election returns aren't going your way, play this video clip. It's an interview with West Point Cadet Sergeant Katherine Miller, who resigned from the United States Military Academy because she's gay, and because U.S. lawmakers haven't yet gotten it together to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Serving while closeted made her compromise her integrity, Miller says, and she wasn't willing to do that.
Along with three other members of the military whose careers have been upended by DADT, Miller accompanied Lady Gaga to MTV's Video Music Awards on Sunday. Now Miller has started new studies at Yale, while she waits to see whether the Senate does in fact vote on the military's ban on gay troops next week.
"This Katherine Miller, who left West Point b/c of DADT, is blowing my mind," show pal Chris Hayes tweeted last night. "Preternatural poise and grace." Among other life-affirming things Miller says, she still intends to serve her country -- in the military, if we'll let her.
"Military service is something that, you know, I'm absolutely going to perform sometime in my lifetime," she tells us. "This commitment to public service is something that's near and dear to me, and I will serve in the military in some capacity -- whether it's by returning to West Point, if repeal occurs in a timely manner, or if it's commissioning via a different commissioning source. But I will serve my country in one capacity or another."
Let's hope the country catches up to her.
[Outserve, the underground network of LGBT servicemembers]
[Full segment last night]
[Katherine Miller's first interview on TRMS]
Leave a Comment:
I'm was stunned when I saw that interview. It just amazes me to see how someone cast into such an unimaginably difficult position can handle it with such grace and level-headed control. Our military needs more like her, and I would feel safer knowing she is protecting our country.
I can only hope that my young children (both girls) learn the strength and discipline that this young lady possesses. Could you imagine if everyone that holds a seat in Washington had the conviction of Katherine Miller? What a wonderful world it would be.....
I love this girl. I wish the government would get their head out of their ******, and do something about DADT. All the people affected that have been on the show have been fantastic to watch. What a waste of great talent forcing them out of the service, all the while letting in criminals, etc. or did they really lower the standards to enlist.
Doctor: Ay, sir; there are a crew of wretched souls
That stay his cure: their malady convinces
The great assay of art; but at his touch--
Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand--
They presently amend.
Macbeth
In the early 19th century, with revolutionaries closing in on Pius VII, Henry Benedict Cardinal Stuart used to perform the Royal Touch ritual. As Henry IX, King of England, he could let any fool see how all politics is dissemblance. Gingrich knows and readily exploits this fact . The Cardinal of York was an honest if simple king. The dishonest and smart kind can fool fools.
The Obama government doesn’t have the royal touch. People are not seeing the Republican’s trick and laughing as they should be. Government has ground to a halt. Journalists are keeping everyone else fooled.
First Amendment freedom consists in the speaking not in the truth of what is said. Who among journalists can explain this simply like a Shakespeare or a Henry Stuart? Can anyone expose politicians for the magicians they all are?
I have a piece describing the magic of politicians. You could do so much better than I have. But where to you want me to send it?
Wow! What a change in just a month. Katherine Miller looked and sounded much more comfortable and happy in her own skin now that she is out and able to live that way all the time. She looked like a ton of bricks had been lifted from her shoulders.
Although she was conflicted about wearing her uniform to the VMA, I'm glad she did. She does have the right to wear it. By wearing the uniform proudly while out and proud is a message Congress and the President should pay attention to.
All the former military members escorting Lady Gaga are exemplary leaders and their removal from service makes our country less safe. These officers aren't just in the military to make their 20 years and retire, these are the kinds of people who stay in the military for life and become our highest-ranking officers.
Cadet-Sergeant Miller is a true leader for our young people and I hope she stays in the public eye enough that teens can see her and watch her do what it takes to be a real leader. I look forward to celebrating the day Katie Miller is a commissioned officer in our military. I hope she'll be back at West Point this spring semester, though she may change her mind about graduating from a military academy after some time at Yale. There are many routes to become a commissioned officer.
I wish I had been that together when I was 20!
I would just like to respond to marcilynnj's comment. How dare you generalize so terribly about our military! Where do you come off saying that "criminals, etc" are making up our military! My brother is a cadet at West Point, both my grandfathers have served, my great-grandfather, and my cousin too and NONE of them are criminals!! The men and women who fight in our military are all willing to give their lives and you owe them MUCH more respect! Until you give that kind of sacrifice shut your mouth!!
Lady Gaga, the laughably named HumanRightsCampaign's favorite performer...
I love, Rachel, how trans people just don't seem to exist for you unless we're working for the administration.
Sergeant Katherine Miller is just the type of woman that I want my 7-year-old daughter to see as a role model. Dedicated, professional, mature, and willing to make hard choices for what she believes in.
I was touched by her story when I first saw her on The Rachel Maddow show, and watching her last night I couldn't help but tear up at how earnest and sincere she is. What a shame that our military is willing to reject people of this caliber over a ridiculous policy like DADT.
I wish Katherine Miller the best of luck in all her future endeavors.
That's "Former Cadet Sergeant Miller," not Sergeant Miller. And, willing to make hard choices for what she believes in? Or willing to use the government and tax payer money for 2 years for personal gain? I'll pick the latter. And one more little correction, the military didn't reject her, she quit. The military and the american public gave her every opportunity they could. And she took the spot of a person who would have actually become a good officer. Please, refrain from talking about things you know nother about, thank you.
Scotty, that's a really cynical view. I take it you're not gay and don't face doing what you love while being in the closet vs. being out and finding your place in the world. Why is it we have to choose and heteros don't?
How do you know for sure she wouldn't have or won't make a great officer? You don't know that, and I think she will at the right time.
The military deal is you can quit for any reason or no reason through year 2. Katie Miller resigned based on the courage of her convictions, and will hopefully return to the military as soon as DADT is repealed. Until it's repealed, she can't return to West Point or go on to any other OCS path because she is now out as a lesbian.
Had she stayed in West Point and the law is not repealed, she'd be drummed out just like the other West Point grads who were found out. She could have cost us the whole 4 years and been kicked out before her 8 years of mandatory service after graduation. No one seems to consider those costs.
If you want to talk about who is wasting the people's money, it's the military on its witch hunts and kicking exemplary military personnel out for being gay. This policy is what is costing us millions of dollars, not Katie Miller. She may actually make a real difference in changing the law and changing the minds of those who would kick her out for who she is.
Catherine is such a lovely young woman, so reposed and formal.. she looked gorgeous and proud in the handsome uniform along side Gaga. Her cupcake smile makes me giggle because it offsets her formal stature so delightfully. Such a brave soul. She has my full admiration and respect.
Lady Gaga for president in 2016. (One of nine federal executive branch presidents)
Citizen is coach to team democracy. Coach is responsible for success. It’s your call, coach.
http://coach-1640280.newsvine.com/
http://constitutionm2.newsvine.com/
http://coach-1640280.newsvine.com/_news/2010/06/04/4462088-coach-cm2-constitution
Presidential Candidate (for one of 9 executive branch presidents) 2016
It is sad to see such talent wasted because of DADT. I have worked with members of the military that have gotten kicked out because of DADT. These people have been far better members of the military than some of the other sundowners that have gotten booted out for drugs, DUI's, under performance, etc.
Hey Rachel, why don't you have R. Clarke Cooper on the show? Is it because he is a log cabin republican? Not all gay/lesbians are democrats.
Ahhh...actually KATIE MILLER wasn't "honorably discharged"--she RESIGNED. Her wearing the uniform to the VMAs (illegially) makes me want to honorably discharge my guts out in the toliet. She is a disgrace to not only the Academy, but to society. How dare we allow ourselves to produce such a coniving, self-serving brat. She is a hoax (if you knew her than you would know). Goodluck with getting a job once you are done being used for political purposes Katie.
When you resign your commission, you receive a discharge if you're too young to retire, which she is. You receive an honorable discharge for the circumstances under which she resigned. She has the right to wear her uniform. She wore it legally to the VMAs.
Learn a little about the military before you go off calling someone willing to stand on the courage of her convictions a disgrace.