Univ of Michigan Elects Gay Student Body President

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, one of the nation's largest public universities, elected its first gay student body president on Thursday.

Chris Armstrong, a junior majoring in sociology, became the president of the Michigan Student Assembly on a platform of advocacy and activism. Armstrong had pledged to support gay rights on campus; he previously helped bring the 2011 Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Ally College Conference to the University of Michigan. Armstrong also interned last summer at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund in Washington, D.C.

"The significance of this event really demonstrates the diversity of this University," Armstrong said in a statement. "The ability of this campus to elect an openly gay president to lead them is something that students should be proud of, and the LGBT community should be proud of."