Friends, family and supporters call Ryan Fournier a trailblazer, but the Ohio State University student is not one to acknowledge it.Change in attitude indeed!
The 21-year-old Sylvania native is the school’s first openly gay undergraduate student government president, and the first in the Big Ten since 1978.
And while he’s confident in his purpose after a few weeks on the job, Fournier said he is still figuring out his role.
"Here I am, elected by the students — all the students — to represent them, while I’m openly gay," he said. "I’m trying to find my balance, trying not to overstep my bounds."
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During his freshman year, Fournier, now a junior, started a branch of the Human Rights Campaign, a national advocacy group that lobbies politicians for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
His work since might have persuaded OSU students to elect him.
"It’s not that he’s really going to bring about the change in attitude," said Adam Schwartz, 22, a fraternity brother of Fournier’s in Sigma Phi Epsilon. "I think he’s the result of a change in attitude."
The Columbus Dispatch - Local/State
