"maybe feelings of low self-worth, isolation and the general depression that I dealt with would have been avoided"

Dear Dr. Westmoreland,

I graduated from Samford in 2010. I was involved with the SGA as a senator, served on a search committee to name a new Dean of Students, was president of my fraternity and served as an orientation leader for two years. Every moment of my undergrad is a moment I cherish and would not take back for anything. I have given back financially and through my thoughts to my school, my fraternity and the orientation program as an alumnus as religiously as I give to any organization I am proud to be a part of. I have always been proud to be a Bulldog.

That feeling was strengthened when I came to Homecoming a few years ago, and I saw some rainbow flags and an organization that supported the LGBTQ+ community at Samford. I actually teared up. If that would have been there earlier, maybe feelings of low self-worth, isolation and the general depression that I dealt with would have been avoided. I never knew there was someone else like me at Samford. To see a group of people willing to come together and not be alone…was simply, sweet. 

That same feeling has come to be bittersweet. Sweet because there has been an organization around that has provided a community to have a discussion and have solace in one another. Bitter because they are not being given the opportunity to operate like other organizations, nor are they getting the recognition from the university level. I want just that sweet feeling back. 

I am proud to be gay. I am proud to be a Samford University Alum. I want my university to be proud of both of those traits about me too, and to make the road for the next person just a little easier. 

Sincerely,
Josh Perkins
Class of 2010