Gay Anthropologist Dr. K David Harrison Preserves Endangered Languages
Harrison with Chris Nevehev on Keamu Island, VanuatuNow Harrison has grown into the type of role model he once needed. The noted author and academic has made a career of traveling to isolated regions to study and document endangered languages.
As a result of his efforts, he’s become a National Geographic Explorer and a fellow of the international, multidisciplinary Explorers Club (founded in 1904).
He’s also the brains behind the club’s recent initiative seeking to bring greater visibility to LGBTQ+ explorers. As Harrison sees it, the lack of awareness isn’t for a dearth of suitable queer explorers.“There’s a distinguished history of LGBTQ people in exploration who were not out at the time and even, in some cases, not out centuries after their death,” Harrison explains.
He hopes that by increasing visibility for LGBTQ+ explorers like the 19th-century geographer Alexander von Humboldt and the late astronaut Sally Ride, the club can provide a more affirming environment for a younger generation. “I want our community to provide positive role models for young kids now to say, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m gay, and I want to be an explorer and a scientist,’” he says.And Harrison certainly fits those identities.“My specialization and my expertise is in studying endangered and nearly extinct languages.
