The rain stopped just before noon Friday, but Penn State students did not have to look to the sky to see rainbows. A large rainbow banner and rainbow balloons adorned Old Main steps for the Pride Week kick-off rally.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students, and their allies came together to educate members of the campus community on differences in sexuality.

About 200 students stood in support of the event wearing Pride Week T-shirts and rainbow wristbands.

Vicky Triponey, vice president of student affairs, addressed the crowd as a supportive administrator.

"I am grateful to have the opportunity to be at PSU and be your chief student adviser to make this a more caring kind of place," Triponey said. "I am hopeful because I see everyone of you here, which demonstrates to me that you are committed to this cause."

Triponey read a poem and challenged LGBT people and their allies to continue their work.

"There's no limit to what you can do together," she said. "How very proud I am to be your friend, advocate and partner in this very important journey."

Vivian Smith (graduate-media studies) read a poem to the crowd. After her presentation, she said Pride Week is a time for LGBT people and allies to come together and be recognized for who they are.

"We deserve to come together," she said. "We are a mixed family, and we need to be with our family. We care and we love just like anyone else."

Smith said the LGBT community wants its members to be recognized as people.

"I have the same kind of blood you do. Who I love shouldn't be a problem," she said.

Larry Young, Paul Robeson Cultural Center director, said love should not determine a person's worth.

"Some of our united fellow citizens have decided to demonize other citizens based on 'lifestyle,' " Young said. "Sexual orientation is, in fact, predetermined and is therefore not lifestyle."

He quoted civil rights activist Frederick Douglass and reminded the crowd that struggle comes from progress.

Andrew Porter, Allies educational director, pointed out the differences between LGBT and straight students.

"Fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, segregation is still going strong," Porter said.

He thanked President George W. Bush for "trying to turn the constitution into a discriminatory document." Porter then pretended to search for "something Margaret Cho left behind."

He turned back to face the crowd and thrust the middle finger into the air.

"George Bush, I'll see you in November at the polls," Porter yelled above applause.

Joel Graham, Coalition of LGBT Graduate Students co-director, said uniting the crowd's voice will make a difference for the LGBTA community.

"One little voice can make a difference to a person, and that person makes a difference to another," he said. "Soon, we will have not one voice, but many voices."

Allies adviser Beth Bradley said the rally played an important role in educating Penn State about the presence of LGBT people and allies on campus.

"It's really important for students to actually gain a stronger place on campus with the administration and other students," Bradley said. "I give them credit for doing what they do."