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It was a taboo to a homosexual in the early part of the 20th century. You were looked down upon and then you were considered an outcast. Over the time things changed. It was ok if not acceptable to be gay. The case for Lesbians was similar. Today same sex marriages are allowed in some countries. This is good news for both, the gay and the lesbian committees.

The queer sex community can heave a sigh of relief now as the laws for them are being relaxed. Taking this one step forward, The Harvard University has now announced that they will endow a visiting professorship in lesbian, gay and bisexual studies. This will also include transgender studies. It is believed to be the first ever position to be created, endowed and named chair in the subject at an American college.

This does come as a surprise if not a pleasant one. This visiting professorship was made possible after Harvard University received a grant of $1.5 million from the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus. This will be formally announced very soon after the university commences its exercises.

With this grant the university will now be able to invite eminent professors who are studying issues related to sexuality or sexual minorities. The university press release states that these professors will be able to teach for one semester on campus.

This position will be named after Professor F.O Matthiessen who is a Harvard scholar and a literary critic. This is so because he is a unique example of a man who was always open about him being gay and it was regarded as an open secret.

Although Harvard will start this course in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender studies, it is not the first university to do it. According to the research conducted by Harvard, the City University of New York had established gay and lesbian studies in 1986.