Clint Hooper is a gay man who went to Texas A&M and served in A&M’s Cadet Corps.
On Monday, to mark National Coming Out Day, Clint sent a letter to Col. Jake Betty, interim commandant of the A&M Cadet Corps., coming out to Betty as a gay man, and “coming clean” about how he “broke the Aggie Honor Code in every way.”
With Clint’s permission, I wanted to share that letter with all of you in Instant Tea land:
Colonel Betty:
I am a proud Aggie, and as such, I believe it is my responsibility to inform you that as a cadet, I broke the Aggie Honor Code in every way and would like to come clean and come out.
As a closeted gay man in the Corps of Cadets, I lied. I lied to my buddies, to my leaders as an underclassman, to my followers as a First Sergeant and a Company Commander, and to myself. I lied because in a setting that is so masculinized it is “Not a privilege to be gay, sir!” there was seemingly no possible way to be honest.
As a closeted gay man in the Corps of Cadets, I cheated. I cheated during the selection process for leadership positions. I was selected to be company First Sergeant and Commander over my buddies because of my dishonesty. I knew that, should I have been truthful, I would not have been placed in those leadership positions.
As a closeted gay man in the Corps of Cadets, I stole. I stole the learning experience of knowing a gay man from my buddies and fellow cadets. There is a stigma and fear of gay people that only knowing and conversing with a gay person can dispel. I have seen it time and time again, the literal eye-opening experience when a person I knew has had a meaningful and educational conversation with a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person and realizes that what they have been told is wrong.
As you may know, today is National Coming Out Day. It is a day where gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender and allied individuals across the national make an effort to make people they known and love aware that they know and love a GLBT person. At this critical time in our nation, and ultimately, humankind’s history, it is imperative that you, the Commandant’s Staff, Corps Housing, cadets and anyone affiliated with the corps know that you are all surrounded by co-workers, friends, family, cadets, classmates, buddies, ol’ ladies, leaders, followers and professors who are openly being discriminated against and forced to live a life of lies. Since 1994, more than 14,000 soldiers have been discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; 29 states allow GLBT persons to be fired because of their sexuality, and GLBT youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.
With nearly 2,000 cadets walking the quad every day, it would be naive to believe that the Corps uniform is not being worn by even a single gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender individual. We are there. We are in the ranks of khaki. We are living on the quad. We are eating in Duncan. We are marching into Kyle Field to the beat of the drums that countless other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender cadets have marched to for over a century.
Within each fish Cadence and in every Standard is a section of Core Values that states, “We respect others and have regard for their dignity, worth and individuality.” Yet I do not believe this to be so. When young men and women, destined to become leaders in the pubic and private sectors of society, are made to feel rejected, insignificant and outcast, then there is no regard for dignity, worth or individuality.
As an integral part of a university that is constantly working on not only advancement in education and science, but on improving our society, the Corps, as a foundation of the university, should take a stand on the acceptance of GLBT cadets and individuals in general. The Corps of Cadets proudly boasts that it is producing “leaders of character.” These future leaders will undoubtedly lead or be GLBT people. To deny this is absurd. This nation is changing, and the movement is reaching far and wide. People, young and old, are taking to the streets, picking up their phones and writing to their congressmen and women, demanding their own or their loved ones’ rights. One of our own, former president of Texas A&M Robert Gates, is currently working on the process of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Wouldn’t it be prudent of the Corps of Cadets to be at the forefront of this movement?
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is succumbing to public opinion and will be repealed sooner rather than later; states will change their employment laws that allow people to be fired based on their sexuality, and equality will lead to more public acceptance of the GLBT community. When this happens, should the Corps of Cadets be left behind as a relic of the past? Or should the Corps of Cadets take the necessary steps now to ensure that its former, current and future cadets are proud to say that they received the quality leadership experience and education that I received without having to break the Aggie Honor Code?
Colonel Betty, I am asking you to take a stand for the rights and welfare of the cadets that you advise and oversee. Though they may not be known to you, they are there and they are looking to for leadership. Support the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and make it known that the Corps of Cadets is a safe environment for everyone no matter their race, religion, gender, ethnicity, country of origin, (dis)ability or sexual orientation. That hate is not an Aggie value, discrimination based on sexuality will not be tolerated and that the leaders, destined for the military and for the civilian sector, which are forged and educated in our corps are true leaders of character. To not do so would be an injustice to them, to you, to our Cadet Corps, and to the university we hold so dear.
Clint Hooper, Denton
Kudos to Mr. Hooper. I hope that his message is taken seriously and that it will foster change with the not only the Corps, but within the University as a whole. As an Aggie grad (non-reg) Class of ’90 and graduate student Class of ’94, I am very familiar with the difficulty of being a gay man in Bryan/College Station.
Texas A&M was recently listed as one of the top10 most homophobic universities in the US. I dearly love the school. I am a season ticket holder for Aggie football, I attend any sporting event that comes close to the DFW area, and I am actively working with a small group of former students to become a recognized sub-group of the Association of Former Students…but it is a long road ahead.
Just this past week, Texas A&M University was the first university to host a NoH8 photo shoot. From what I have heard, the turn out was huge and that gay Aggies and Non-Aggies came from near and far to have their voices heard and to be a part of the NoH8 photo campaign.
To all GLBT Aggies out there, both in and out of the closet, we need to make our voices heard as well. Contact the university and let them know that we are hear and that we want to see more positive movement towards acceptance for our beloved institution of higher education.
Well done Mr Hooper! Your words are inspiring!
Wow! Now that was written by a future leader I can follow!
I’m so very proud of you, Clint! The GLBT Resource Center at Texas A&M stands with you 🙂 WHOOP!
I was the first openly gay cadet to go all the way through the Corps back in 2003. Col Jake Betty was one of the best leaders I knew. When I faced harrassment on a daily basis after losing my military contract under DADT, Col Betty was one of the people I always knew I could trust, and the GLBT cadets in the Corps today can trust him as well. He is an honorable man for whom I have enormous respect.
WHOOP!!!! That was eloquently put.
Glad this guy wasn’t in my outfit seeing as how we shower together…does this mean I get to shower with girls as long as I don’t check them out? I think Sully just turned over in his grave. God bless the Corps and the way she used to be.
Well done, Clint! I was the Coordinator of Gender Issues Education Services at Texas A&M from 1996-1999. (Lowell, this was the pre-cursor to the GLBT Resource Center….with Jeff Anderson as the graduate assistant working specifically with GLBT students). We pushed and pushed for recognition by Corps leadership that GLBT students were serving in the Corps. And, we repeatedly worked to address instances of sexual harassment, harassment, and/or anti-gay bias. Your honesty about your experience as a Cadet is heart-wrenching….particularly when we acknowledge that countless Cadets have felt this same isolation and hatred. And, yet, as Curtis notes, it is precisely what needs to be heard – by the Corps leadership, indeed; but, by the institutional administration as well.
Thank you for taking for sharing your voice. I hope the chorus of voices out there (including mine) will rise up to join you.
@Rcv:
I think I could speak for the whole gay community when I say….don’t flatter yourself!
Lol ignorance is funny……….
Please then, by all means, educate me how it is not a problem for a male that is attracted to other males to shower with “buddies” who are trusting that their own privacy and decency isn’t being invaded. I am not a homophobe. I am glad he came out, but as he said himself though he should have done it earlier. It is the lying that really bothers me and an apology was most certainly in order, but I’m not going to praise him
for doing so. Aggie Honor Code: “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do”
I knew Clint going through the Corps as a fish and I would say that I sensed his inner turmoil and it was a source of strength to me to know that there were others even if they had to hide to succeed. Rcv I really wish you wouldn’t judge those of us who stayed closeted while in the Corps, until you are in a position like that you have no right to judge us. Every one of us has a different path and although it isn’t fair to succeed in some parts of the Corps you have to keep your private life private. This is wrong and I hated it sometimes but it was my choice, my life, my pain and my happiness, not yours. I will soon be going into the Marine Corps as a leader and as a follower standing up for my country. As of this day I cannot do it openly but that is a price I’m willing to pay to stand for our country and allow people to live as they are and people like you to judge our “lies”. Those of us who stand up are fighting two fights, we allow others and ourselves to fight for the freedoms of everyone including LGBT people and if all the gay people were to be open and kicked out of the military all of this would be lost. You can believe it or not, keep judging or not but just stand with all of those who are trying to do right even if you can’t necessarily see that right. Thanks and gig ’em!
@Rcv:
You said: “Please then, by all means, educate me how it is not a problem for a male that is attracted to other males to shower with “buddies” who are trusting that their own privacy and decency isn’t being invaded.”
I don’t see why you would assume that they would  invade your “privacy and decency”. What, do you assume that gay people have no self control, and they will jump on you as soon as they see you naked? That’s exactly the attitude I was addressing when I said “don’t flatter yourself”. I personally could care less if someone who I’m not interested in finds me attractive, as long as they’re not actively coming on to me, or otherwise to make me feel uncomfortable. What’s the big deal?
You said: “I am not a homophobe.”
It sure sounds like it….
You said: “I am glad he came out, but as he said himself though he should have done it earlier. It is the lying that really bothers me and an apology was most certainly in order, but I’m not going to praise himfor doing so. Aggie Honor Code: “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do”
Really?? It’s the lying that bothers you? What an asshole! It doesn’t sound like he had much of a choice, or risk losing everything. I’m an Aggie myself, and I’m proud to have Aggies like Clint here to call my brothers (and sisters). I certainly don’t think he owed ANYONE an apology. If anything, I think that the university, along with the core of cadets, Â should issue HIM an official letter of apology!
Colonel Betty? Is there a Captain Doris and Major Marjorie, too?
No. All of you who havent experienced the corps or the armed forces for that matter dont understand. It is a condition to be gay. It’s not genetic. It’s a choice. If you make that choice, then by all means congrats. However; the Corps and the military is a very delicate and intimate setting of trust, bonding, and friendship. If you have one of your male cadet buddies who is attracted to one of his other buddies it’s a problem. It’s no different than a kid in the Corps who cant get his crap together and cant adapt. He doesnt belong. You cant make truly appropriate decicions in the military either if you’re constantly hearing in the back of your mind,”oh he’s cuter” or ” oh he accepts my adnormality.” That kind of fratinization gets people killed, and it’s also why women aren’t allowed in the combat arms branches of the Army. The apology is in order, because it was like a betrayal what he did. People like Clint (although he may have been an awesome cadet) are destroying the integrity of the Corps and what it stands for. Especially if he was a first sergeant. For those who dont know, thats a very impressionable position that rubs off a lot on younger cadets. Some of you may not like my post, but it needed to be said by someone who is in the army and a Corps Aggie. I have nothing against gay people, but I do have a problem with them in my military, and in the “Westpoint of the South”.
How in the hell did we allow these guys in the SEC?
Sorry Cadet Ag, it is not a choice for those who are really homosexual. There are those who “choose to enjoy what feels good.” There are also true Bisexuals, as well as a very few A-sexuals. I was a cadet decades ago and knew I was gay before high school. I witnessed quite a few incidents of consentual homosexuality and gay sex while at A&M. My straight fish roommate and I had frequent sex. Following A&M, I entered the Navy and flew aircraft carrier jet interceptors depoyed to the Western Pacific, while I was still gay, of course. Upon my discharge, I returned home and was elected to the city council of my hometown. I started several businesses which were all successful and participated in many civic clubs and charities. I am now comfortably retired and do volunteer work and serve as an ordained Elder in my church (which accepts GLBTQs). I have never made a public declaration that I am gay, but recently I have not hidden it from my friends or anyone who asked. When I was young, it was impossible for me to do everything I accomplished if I had not hidden my homosexuality. I had two fiancee’s, but never married. I could not live a lie with a spouse. I am happy with my life and have many friends from all my past experiences, gay and straight.