The process to create a minor focusing on gender identity and sexuality is under way, although it will not be an official minor until fall 2003 at the earliest.

The curricular integration committee of the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Equity has received positive feedback from the commission, said committee member Sara Ryan.

The commission advises university president Graham Spanier and addresses issues affecting members of the LGBT community.

The curricular integration committee found a variety of existing courses that would apply to the proposed minor, Ryan said.

"It's going to give students an opportunity, regardless of what their major is, to take courses from a variety of different departments," Ryan said.

Ryan said the proposed courses for the minor included those that are already available and that only one course, an introduction to gender identity and sexuality, would be created.

"We're hoping this won't be too costly," she said. "It's going to require that department to use resources."

Ryan, committee member Mike Ritter and USG town senator Manish Vaidya said it is important for Penn State to have a minor focusing on sexuality and gender issues.

Ryan said the creation of this minor might bring more LGBT faculty to the university, which would create more allies and role models for members of the LGBT community.

"We're a major research university, and the fact that we don't have this yet is kind of surprising," Vaidya said.

Ritter echoed Vaidya's sentiments.

"There are some other Big Ten universities who have established similar minors," Ritter said.

Ritter said the creation of the minor will be a good way to educate people about LGBT affairs.

The curricular integration committee will now take steps to find a home for the minor, Ryan said.

"Our number one goal is to find a department that will guarantee us that we can house the minor in their department," Ryan said.

Ritter said the committee hopes to have a proposal for the creation of the minor written by December.

Thomas Bernard, co-chair of the curricular integration committee, said he hoped the proposal could be presented to the University Faculty Senate soon.