Obama Appoints First Openly Lesbian Veteran to West Point Advisory Board

Urban Christian News:  President Barack Obama named Brenda S. "Sue" Fulton, an Army veteran who campaigned to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, to the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy on Tuesday, putting the first openly gay or lesbian person onto the board that advises him on West

Ms. Fulton, 52 years old, is the executive director and co-founder of Knights Out, an organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered West Point graduates and allies. Her appointment to the West Point board, announced Tuesday, does not require Senate confirmation. She graduated from West Point in 1980, part of the first class to include women.

Ms. Fulton says she became politically active for the first time in years after Mr. Obama took office, as she campaigned for an end to the military policy that has banned openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military. She said in an interview Tuesday that she hopes her appointment will send a message to young people who are considering military service.

"I would hope it would symbolize to all people gay and straight that anti-gay bias in the military is a thing of the past. I would hope it would tell them that if you're willing to serve your country and you're qualified, other factors don't matter," she said. "I see my role as in some sense helping West point send that message-that we respect all people equally. That's part of our values, that's part of our code."