The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) sent a letter to Penn State president Graham Spanier on behalf of former Penn State women's basketball player Jen Harris yesterday, demanding that action be taken against Lady Lions coach Rene Portland for harassment of players who Portland believed to be lesbians.

Portland told The Associated Press yesterday that she was unaware of the request and declined to comment on either Harris' transfer to James Madison University or the accusations of an anti-lesbian bias.

Penn State sports information issued a statement that said comment from the athletic department would be inappropriate before having an opportunity to speak with Spanier, who was traveling yesterday.

Several calls placed to Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon were not returned.

Harris' mother, Pearl Harris, said that in spite of the alleged harassment, her daughter is not a lesbian.

"The [NCLR] knows that and has chosen to represent her anyway," Pearl Harris said.

Jen Harris was unavailable for comment yesterday.

NCLR counsel Karen Doering, Harris' attorney, said the NCLR represents both gay and straight individuals.

The gay rights advocacy group asserted that Portland has harassed players, including Harris, throughout her coaching career at Penn State.

"What Rene Portland is doing is not only against university policy, but it's also illegal," Doering said.

The university's statement on nondiscrimination and harassment, Policy AD42, states: "The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University."

The Penn State Board of Trustees modified the policy in 1991 to include sexual orientation after a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer quoted a former Lady Lions player alleging that Portland discriminated against lesbians in recruiting.

Portland had refused to comment on the issue until eight months later, when students protested outside Old Main. She ultimately responded by saying she was aware of the university policy and that her adherence was required as a university employee.

In March, Harris said Portland asked her to "look for another school." Portland also allegedly told two other former Lady Lions, individually, to search for another school for undisclosed reasons, hours after the team's season-ending loss. All three players were granted a release from their scholarship commitments to Penn State. Harris is now enrolled at James Madison University, where she is currently a member of its women's basketball team.

According to Doering, Portland repeatedly questioned Harris' sexuality while she was a Lady Lion. She also said Portland told Harris on multiple occasions to change the way she dressed and acted.

"She told players not to associate with Jen or they would be kicked off, too," Doering said.

Doering said the decision to send a letter to Spanier was made after consulting former Lady Lions players, former coaches and former employees of the Penn State athletic department. She said several of the individuals she spoke with were also told by Portland to change the way they dressed and acted, and on several occasions, to date men.

"This is 2005, and Rene Portland needs to step up," Doering said. "Graham Spanier needs to do what's right."

Doering also said the letter was sent yesterday, since it was also Penn State women's basketball media day.

Harris and the NCLR are prepared to take the matter to court should the university not address Portland's alleged harassment, Doering said.

Doering alleged Portland also uses homophobia as a recruiting tool to prevent high school basketball players from committing to schools other than Penn State.

"She uses homophobia to try to scare people away from other universities," Doering said. She added that Harris was recruited by Penn State and the University of Virginia, but Portland said Harris should not attend Virginia because there were lesbians on its basketball team.

Pearl Harris said her daughter was torn after she left the team, but after six weeks, she decided action needed to be taken.

"It was at that point that she said, 'Why do I have to go through this? I haven't done anything wrong. I haven't violated any of the team rules. I haven't been arrested for anything. I'm not in any trouble academically. Why do I have to go through this?' " Pearl Harris said. "At that point, she said, 'This cannot be happening to me, and I cannot allow it to happen to any other kid.' "

Yesterday, members of the Penn State lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied community issued a statement signed by the Penn State Rainbow Roundtable and the Penn State Pride Alliance concerning the letter sent to Spanier.

"The climate in Penn State intercollegiate athletics is representative of systematic homophobia and heterosexism experienced by university community members on a daily basis," the statement said.