Lady Gaga has taken it upon herself to become an advocate for gay rights, especially for those serving in the military, by becoming extremely vocal in having 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' repealed.

But is Lady Gaga the right person for the job, and is she someone gay service men and women want?

Exactly thirty years ago today, May 28th, West Point graduated its first women.  I was one of sixty-one women who raised their right hands that day and swore our oaths to the Constitution, then pinned on our bars as new second lieutenants.

No one rolled out the red carpet for us, but on the whole, the integration of women at West Point went pretty well. We kept our heads down, and did the work, and were rewarded on occasion by a male cadet saying grudgingly, “Well, I don’t believe women belong here, but you’re okay.” My roommate was an amazing athlete – what West Pointers call, regardless of gender, a “stud.” She could do a dozen pull-ups, run two miles in 12 minutes. In combat boots. I was more of an academic type, competing on West Point’s Debate Team as a plebe. At some point, the head of Admissions told me that my SATs had been the highest of anyone, man or woman, entering in the class of ’80.