As a member of the queer community, I am glad to know that there is one more person in the Penn State community that understands what it feels like to be discriminated against ("Violence Should Not Be Directed at Gays," Jan 31). Fortunately, for Brian, this seems to be a one-time occurrence based on perceived sexual orientation. Unfortunately, for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or queer, these occurrences happen way too often. While I am thankful that at least one more person has an understanding of what it is like to be discriminated against, I hope that someday nobody will have to experience what Brian did that one time, or what I have to think about everyday.

Having been discriminated against here at Penn State in the classroom, the workforce and also out on the town in my free time, I feel for Brian.

I urge him and anybody who experiences an act of hate to report the act to the Report Hate Web site.