West Point ally: Lt. Col. Allen Bishop broke new ground by publicly calling for an end to the military's ban on gays. He hopes others will follow.

When Lt. Col. Allen Bishop went to a symposium on the military's "don't ask, don't bell" policy at Hofstra University two years ago, he was inspired to write an article calling for an end to the ban on gays serving openly. But it wasn't that easy: It took many meetings with top military officials and several drafts of his editorial before he was finally allowed to publish it in the March 14 issue of the Army Times. In the article he argues that "don't ask, don't tell" imposes an un-American second-class status on one group of citizens.

Bishop is the highest-ranking active-duty officer to take such a position, and his editorial has been hailed by gay rights activists as further evidence that the ban on gays is opposed by many within the military. The 50-year-old father of four is now in his 10th year of beaching philosophy at West Point military academy near New York City; he lives on campus with his wife of 30 years. He grew up in Mississippi before joining the Army in 1975. During an interview with The Advocate, Bishop was required by his superiors to state that his opinions are his own, not those of the Army or the academy.

What kind of reaction have yon gotten?

My worst fear was that no one would say anything. I expected when this tiring was published that people would steer a wide path around me in the hallways. But I have been pleasantly surprised. One senior person said, "You're my hero. I'm glad it got published, and I hope Congress changes this policy." Another said, "I really don't like what you said. It doesn't agree with my religious views. But I think you're probably right."

Do you think other active-duty officers will follow your lead?

I think they will. Within a year there will be more senior people saying even smarter things.

Why have you decided to defend gay soldiers?

As a married man in the Army the government not only allows me to practice my sexuality, it guarantees me that I can. That's not true for gay and lesbian people. This ban is hurting the country. It violates our own best democratic principles: life, liberty, and justice for all. It's mean, ugly, raw prejudice.

How can the military justify forcing gay soldiers to lie, given the honor code at West Point?

The first thing a soldier would say is, we are officers of the law. Duly elected and proper authority says gays can't serve. We didn't write the law, but we have a duty to uphold it.

What do your students think about the gay ban?

I would say that among 19-and 20-year-old cadets there is less resistance to changing the policy than among older military people.

So what can we do about changing the policy?

The people who really need to think about this are in the military community, Even if they don't agree, the fact that they have a conversation about it is progress. We can't pick and choose which Americans we need to defend.

Would you testify against the ban before Congress?

If invited, I would be delighted to testify. If Congress says, "Come and tell us what you think," then I can say what I think. But the rules forbid me from doing that in a professional capacity.

As other nations end their bans on gay soldiers, is that putting pressure on the United States to do the same?

I hope so. Congress would agree that our best and oldest friend is England. Now the British navy is actively recruiting gays. I hope that Congress would eventually see that we're kidding ourselves.