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President Obama named Brenda S. "Sue" Fulton to the West Point Military Academy's Board of Visitors on Tuesday, according to a White House press release. Fulton is the first freely gay person to get that honor. Post resource - Openly gay woman appointed to West Point Board of Visitors by Newsytype.com.Facts about the Board of VisitorsThe president gets recommendations and is advised by the West Point Board of Visitors. This is all on the West Point Academy. It includes nine members of congress and six presidential appointees.Meeting with the Wall Street JournalFulton was in a meeting with the Wall Street Journal when she said:"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. 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." Lived in GermanyFulton, 52, graduated from West point in 1980. She was of the very first women ever accepted in the academy. She was in charge of a military intelligence business in Germany for the Army Signal Corps for five years after she got her commission. She was honorably discharged and has since worked for Schering-Plough/Merck and Procter & Gamble. She has done lots of volunteer work in the U.S. and in India and Israel. She lives in New Jersey right now.The campaigning started in 1993After she managed to graduate from West Point and served in Germany, Fulton realized that she was really a lesbian. She campaigned to get a repeal of the United States army "don't ask, don't tell" policy after coming out in 1993.A blunt activistFulton is the co-founder and executive director of Knights Out, an organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) West Point graduates. Any LGBT individuals that have not yet "come out" in the army are supported by OutServe. It is an organization she also helped found.Articles cited Army Times armytimes.com/news/2011/07/ap-west-point-brenda-sue-fulton-board-of-visitors-070511/ On Top ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=8858&MediaType=1&Category=26 Huffington Post huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/06/brenda-sue-fulton-obama-west-point_n_891183.html
