Ambassador Michael Guest

In 2001, Michael Guest was the first openly gay man to be confirmed by the US Senate to serve as an ambassador. It was to Romania. During his tenure he spoke out against corruption, and was decorated by the Romanian government for his service. After his appointment as ambassador to Romania ended, he served as a dean at the Foreign Service Institute. That is, until last month, when after 26 years with the state department he resigned because his partner hadn’t been given the same rights as heterosexual spouses.