Gay and lesbian cadets and midshipmen in the nation’s service academies are struggling to come out in the aftermath of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a report by the Huffington Post’s Max Rosenthal finds. While “attitudes among cadets are generally accepting,” and “no formal complaints or reports have been lodged,” some senior enlisted people have reportedly made off-color remarks about gay members, and a formal support group for LGBT cadets does not exist:

One gay midshipman in his senior year, who requested anonymity, said the environment at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., was “better, but it still has a long way to go.” He was reluctant to reveal his sexuality to classmates for fear that subordinates would question his leadership, and he knew of other midshipmen who had come out to mixed receptions.

The lack of more formal support groups at the academies is largely a result of similar concerns, interviewed cadets said. Officials at West Point, the Naval Academy and Air Force said they would be open to requests for support groups, and there are efforts underway at Coast Guard to launch a peer support group. But many gay students may not be prepared for such open recognition.

“The biggest group of resistance has been the gay and lesbian midshipmen,” the senior midshipman said. “We said we’re not ready to do this as a group yet. That’s almost across the board.“

Generally, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has been without incident, with the staunchest military supporters of the policy embracing gay and lesbian service members .

Second Lady Jill Biden spoke out against anti-gay bullying at the Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays’ (PFLAG) national convention this afternoon, and congratulated the organization for “shining a light” on LGBT equality in “places where yours is the only voice of support and acceptance”:

We have all heard painful stories of bullying and harassment. And we have read too many accounts of heartbreaking incidents where kids are driven to take their own lives rather than endure the taunting of their peers. No child should be subjected to that. And no parent should suffer that horrific loss.

We know the devastating price of the failure to confront a hostile school climate where bullying and harassment can be daily occurrences. Together, we all need to stand up and do our part to keep all of our kids safe, and give them the love, support and acceptance they need to learn and grow and fulfill their dreams. [...]

I want to say to each of you here today: thank you for raising your voice and working together to open minds, shift attitudes and support all of our sons and daughters, students and neighbors.
Some of you come from places where yours is the only voice of support and acceptance – but when you speak, people listen. And we need you to keep speaking out, to keep shining a light on this important issue.

Biden highlighted the administration’s accomplishments on behalf of LGBT rights and thanked the group for “your courage and commitment — and for promoting the dignity of your sons and daughters.” Read the full speech here.

Rick Santorum kicks off a series of speeches on “cultural” and “moral policy” in Iowa today, in what looks like a desperate attempt to stake out the most extreme positions on every social issue he can think of. The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin has this preview of his 16 policy initiatives:

– Calling on Congress to abolish the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals;

– Advocating for a personhood amendment to the Constitution;

– Calling on Congress to reinstitute the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy; and

– Executive orders to reinstitute the Mexico City policy to stop taxpayer funding or promotion of abortion overseas and to repeal Clinton-era Title X family planning regulations.

– He also promises to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to restore the separation of Title X family planning from abortion practices and restore a ban on referrals for abortion.

– Finally, he will pledge to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court.

Well, that about covers it. We’ll keep an eye out as he delivers the first address at Urbandale, Iowa this morning in hopes of hearing more about “the dangers of contraception in this country.”

Mylinda Mason — a candidate for school board in Modesto, California — is accusing “militant homosexuals” of destroying campaign memorabilia in response to her opposition to SB-48, a new law that requires schools to incorporate the contributions of the LGBT community in the curricula. Marson has an openly gay son, but presents herself as a Christian social conservative who supports teaching “family values” in the classroom. Mason condemned “homosexuals” for tearing down her signs on several community Facebook pages, and posted on her own personal page once after her comments were removed:

“Wow…Tough day. The Liberals are going out of their way to attack my positions on the social issues that will largely influence any implementation of mandates as a result of my School Board ‘votes’. My Biblical family values are not up for random change.”

“My signs are being damaged, torn down and stolen all over town by the intolerant left. The threat of a Christian grandmother is more than they can take. I just received the third phone call this morning to let me know about the damage done in the dark of night. Having taken a stand for what is right and true, homosexuals and other liberals want to make me pay a price, if not financially at least emotionally and psychologically. Militant homosexual groups and pro-abortion activists have engaged in this type of behavior for decades, only now attacks are getting even more brazen. MM”

Watch a local news report:

Mason prominently condemns SB-48 on her website, saying, “I believe that it is a moral, educational, and financial travesty to mandate our children be taught to accept a lifestyle that is against the beliefs of the majority of the Parents of Modesto.” “This is an issue that goes against my Christian morality and should addressed at the discretion of the parents, if they deem it necessary. It is also educationally unnecessary to discuss the lifestyle choice of any historical figure.”