Thursday, June 05, 2008

A little thank you note to President Drew Gilpin Faust

Have I said how much I like Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust? Ah, yes, I have.

Well, now, she has taken advantage of a great opportunity to speak out on the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy at the ROTC military appointment ceremony. She did not make an especially strident statement that upstaged the moment for the graduates... no, instead, she just took a moment to comment on the nature of military service. 365gay.com notes:

Faust told about 200 people who attended the military appointments of five
Harvard ROTC members that military service "a pathway to full participation in
American life" She went on to say, "Indeed, I wish that there were
more of you. I believe that every Harvard student should have the opportunity to
serve in the military, as you do, and as those honored in the past have done."

Faust clearly didn't need to make this statement. She is a true ally and a friend of LGBT folks. She has my respect.

I am so pleased to note the pro-LGBT statements, policies, and actions coming from educational and governmental institutions in recent days. It gives me such hope for the future.

3 comments:

Foobar said...

Thanks writing about this. The 365gay link is stale, but try this transcript instead.

Lesboprof said...

Thanks, AD. Much better link.

Anonymous said...

Is Drew a member of the LGBT community, herself? I'm just reading about her for the first time -- impressive person!