Quote:

---

AmericaBlog editor John Aravosis broke a story today that the Air Force Academy has hired notorious “ex-gay” activist Dr. Mike Rosebush as the Chief of Character and Leadership Coaching for the Academy.

http://americablog.com/2013/11/air-force-academy-ex-gay-cure-advocate-
overseeing-cadet-counseling.html

Rosebush has spent his entire professional career conducting reparative therapy to cure homosexuality. The hiring of this career anti-gay activist demonstrates incredibly poor judgment by Academy officials and calls into question the command climate at the institution.

There is absolutely no legitimate justification for the hiring of a man whose entire professional career has been exclusively devoted to practices which have been condemned by EVERY legitimate association for mental health professionals.

1.The Air Force Inspector General should immediately conduct an investigation into this hiring action and the command climate within the Academy – especially for LGBT Cadets and staff.

2.The Secretary of the Air Force should immediately promulgate guidance to ensure that the discredited, pseudo-scientific, “reparative” therapy be prohibited by any Air Force Counselor and that all counseling of LGBT Airmen is conducted in accordance with the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients. http://sacvalleyvets.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/usaf-academy-hires-ex-ga
y-therapy-advocate-to-oversee-counseling-program/)]

---

Quote:

---

Regarding the allegations saying the Air Force’s Academy not being a welcoming place for LGBQ cadets, The Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson (pictured), along with the Commandant of Cadets, Brig. Gen. Gregory Lengyel, and the Dean of the Faculty, Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost, and Dr. Hans Mueh (Brig. Gen, ret.) Athletic Director recently met with Spectrum, the Academy’s affinity group for LGBQ cadets.

In that forum, the cadets expressed to Academy leaders that they are proud to be in the Air Force and do not feel like the Air Force Academy culture inhibits them in any way. Rather, they expressed their concerns about the media reports and how those reports may affect the decision of young Americans to attempt to come to the Academy.

One attendee at the forum was Air Force Capt. Michelle L. Reinstatler, an Instructor, Department of English and Fine Arts, and the Officer in Charge of Spectrum.

“During the forum with leadership, the cadets of Spectrum expressed multiple times that the Academy is a safe and validating place to be LGBQ,” Capt. Reinstatler said. ”Several cadets have told me they are frustrated with the articles disparaging USAFA; these articles do not take into account the extensive support our LGBQ cadets have received from Academy leadership or the reality of the Academy’s inclusive environment.” http://bulgebull.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/in-wake-of-ex-gay-story-gay-
cadet-blasts-us-air-force-academy-claim-that-gays-feel-welcome-there/]

---

Quote:

---

I am writing this to you today as a client of the MRFF. I happen to be gay. Please keep all of my information confidential as you always do.

I happen to not be out and have no intention of ever being out while I attend USAFA. I am a current cadet at the United States Air Force Academy. I am a Christian. I am also an athlete on one of USAFA’s most publicized NCAA intercollegiate teams here. I have been a client of the MRFF for a while now. It’s the only help we have and it’s a great source of security for me and other gay cadets. So thank you always for that.

I saw USAFA’s self serving press release today about how “happy” all the gay cadets are here. How nice of all of the powers that be to meet with the Spectrum Club all of the sudden now that they’re in the shits with the media and getting jacked up everywhere for hiring Rosebush. Of course to be in Spectrum you have to out yourself. If I and the many other cadets I know who are LGB came out it would be devastating for our cadet and future Air Force careers. I could never stay on my intercollegiate team. Being LGB here is like not being an “all in” Christian. You’re finished.

What a crock that press release is. What a crock the academy leaders are for keeping Rosebush here. Anyways, I don’t have time to elaborate. Mikey you know how bad it is because we tell you and you have seen it. Those of us who are LGB live in the worst fear of being outted at any moment and suffering for it. Maybe Rosebush can magically make us all “ungay”? Do you know how it makes us feel to know that our school has a man like that here? And how many other Rosebushes are here? If people can’t see it now they never will. Having USAFA keep a person like Rosebush on staff at CCLD here shames all of us. He believes we made a choice to be LGB. He believes us to be “sick” with that gay disease. He believes we are sinning and will go to hell if we don’t repent through Jesus and “choose” to be straight. And he has a “counseling” plan to make us all straight? Doesn’t anyone of the highger ups here know how that makes us feel? It takes away our dignity as human beings. It takes away everything of value.

MIkey, I have to go study. Have finals. Hope this helps explain how so many of us feel destroyed now. Thank you and the MRFF for calling on the Air Force to fire Rosebush. As if that will ever happen. http://bulgebull.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/in-wake-of-ex-gay-story-gay-
cadet-blasts-us-air-force-academy-claim-that-gays-feel-welcome-there/

---

Quote:

---

The Air Force Academy reportedly hired Dr. Mike Rosebush to lead its Chief of Character and Leadership Coaching program amid growing concerns as to the Academy’s stance in being a welcoming place for gay cadets. Rosebush’s appointment would put him in charge of a team of counselors despite his professional position that homosexuality can be cured; his previous experience in “curing” homosexuality and other “sexual addictions” spans almost two decades since 1995.

---

Quote:

---

Below is a joint statement from Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning and General Mark A. Welsh III, Air Force Chief of Staff on the USAFA personnel matter for your use:

"The Air Force is comprised of a rich workforce whose backgrounds reflect various races, origins, orientations, ethnicities, languages, cultures and life experiences. We promote an atmosphere of inclusion throughout our ranks and strive to ensure every Airman is treated with dignity and respect. If we fail to do that, at any level on the team, we break faith with our core values that hold us together.

The Air Force Academy and its leadership are looking into the personnel matter and are keeping us updated. We have the utmost confidence in [academy superintendent] Lt Gen [Michelle] Johnson's ability to lead her organization." http://www.csindy.com/IndyBlog/archives/2013/11/21/more-on-rosebush-at
-the-air-force-academy

---