Conference wraps up Pride Week

While browsing the Internet, Erica Putro discovered something that intrigued her -- information about a day-long conference at Penn State devoted to issues of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community.

Putro is a senior at Kent State University in Ohio. After traveling across two states, she attended the Pride Week conference Saturday, sponsored by the Lambda Student Alliance (Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance).

The conference, held in Fisher Hall, featured a keynote speaker, four workshops and an "absolutely fabulous dance," but Putro said she made the trek for one workshop in particular, titled "Bisexuality: Exposing the Myth."

Facilitated by Duane Gildea, political co-director of LSA, and Sally Maud Robertson (undergraduate-letters, arts and sciences), the workshop was a roundtable discussion with two goals at hand -- to discuss what it means to be bisexual and to come up with a working definition of bisexuality. About 20 people attended the workshop.

The group members hashed out their thoughts on how the public perceives bisexuality. People at the workshop said bisexuals are often seen as promiscuous and confused and are treated as outcasts from both the gay and heterosexual communities.

"The general public thinks that people need to be boxed into homosexuality or heterosexuality," Dana McCurley (junior-English) said. "The acceptance of bisexuality, however, comes from the fact that not everyone fits into one of those two boxes."

When in drag, Grace gallivants as a minister and jazz singer named Trinity. He spoke about spirituality and crossing gender barriers in the HUB Assembly Room Friday night, but the workshop Saturday was aimed at giving a behind-the-scenes look at the physical and mental aspects of dressing in drag.

With a constant smile and giddy enthusiasm, Grace stressed the importance of jewelry, eyelashes, high heels and wigs to a drag queen.

"I can't believe I'm teaching drag at Penn State University," Grace said, laughing.

He passed around two round objects -- rice wrapped in nylon and tied with a taut knot. People squished the objects in curiosity and Grace then showed the audience how he stuffs his bra with them.

Grace said drag doesn't have to be glamorous, but he encouraged the audience to think big.

"When you look in the mirror and you look like your mother, it's not working," Grace said. "You want to look like your mother on acid."

LSA member John Katunich said he picked up some tips from the more experienced Grace.

"I've done a little bit of drag before, but this was more of a professional look at it," Katunich (graduate-speech communications) said. "I learned the mental preparation and theatrical aspects that go into being in drag."