In response to Town Senator Holloway's comments on Pride Week at the end of Thursday's article "USG funds Republican trip" stating that the College Republicans trip, "is more educational than a gay poetry reading or a rally on Old Main," I offer the following thoughts.

All recognized Penn State groups deserve funding for activities that enlighten and educate those involved. If it is not possible to fund both the College Republicans trip and Pride Week, maybe activities dealing with exigent social issues should be funded instead.

Maybe as an act of solidarity between College Republicans and the gay community here at Penn State, College Republicans would forgo its annual trip, instead offering to fund Pride Week. It is a shame that people like Mr. Holloway, who are supposed to represent the interests of all Penn State students, fail to recognize the importance of the solidarity and education provided by Pride Week.

How is the College Republicans trip, where, I imagine, members come together to celebrate and share their Republican values, different from Pride Week, where gay and lesbian students come together to celebrate and share their own lives and experiences with the student body?

As a gay male in a technical major, I often experience belligerent, homophobic attitudes. Contrary to popular belief, or delusion, Happy Valley is no utopia of learning and tolerance.

Educational events such as Pride Week are needed to promote equity at Penn State. Pride Week, when implemented properly, provides a means for gay and lesbian students to come together and show the public that we do indeed represent a significant portion of the population.

Pride Week is an opportunity to educate the public about the difficulties faced every day by gays and lesbians in an overly-homophobic society.