Yesterday, Brenda Sue Fulton became the first woman and first lesbian chair of the U.S. Military Academy Board of Visitors. Fulton graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1980, where she accepted the position as chair during a scheduled visit to the academy. Her appointment also makes her the first female graduate of West Point to hold this position, stating in a press news release:
"It is an honor to serve as the board's leader as we advise the superintendent on a variety of issues facing the academy. I'm particularly proud of the efforts made by the leadership to address and improve inclusivity opportunities for both women and minorities at West Point because those efforts make West Point and the Army stronger.”
Selected as a Presidential appointee to the board back in 2011, she previously served as vice chairwoman. She replaces former board president Representative John Shimkus, Illinois, 15th Congressional District.
Fulton continually represents and supports the LGBT community serving in the military. She is a founding board member of OutServe, an advocacy group for active-duty LGBT soldiers. Also Fulton is a founder of Knights Out, an organization of West Point Cadets, Alumni, and Faculty that unites in supporting the rights of LGBT soldiers in the military. She currently heads SPART*A, an LGBT military organization that aids and supports all facets of the LGBT military community.
Previously, Fulton and her wife Penny Gnesin were featured for their wedding at West Point Military Academy back in 2012. The idea to marry at the West Point chapel occurred to Fulton and Gnesin when friends mentioned the idea to them at an Irish pub in Washington D.C. They considered legally marrying at West Point in New York and Fulton proposed after a quick conversation between the two. They were the first LGBT couple to marry at West Point Military Academy's Cadet Chapel.