Silent LGBTQ protestors gathered at the Renaissance Fund dinner to demonstrate against discrimination the same night that the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a formal complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission on behalf of former Lady Lion Jennifer Harris.

Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland, who was chosen as "Person of the Year" by the fund last January, was an honored speaker last night at the Presidents Hall in the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

She was also the target of the silent demonstration.

"I don't think that they have an excuse that it happened in January because she has a history of discriminatory behavior," Christy Merchant said, a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.

The group said it was present because of what it perceives to be

close-mindedness on the part of Portland. The members said they found it ironic that she was chosen to speak at a "Renaissance" event after the discrimination allegations.

"It's ironic, and it says a lot about what may or not be the ethical principles of the Renaissance Fund," Merchant said.

About two dozen LGBTQ members stood stone-faced along the corridor entering Presidents Hall until 6:45 p.m., leaving shortly after the dinner was under way. All of them were dressed in black; a handful of members wore face masks, while others had duct tape over their mouths. They were armed with baskets of pamphlets and pins that read "No More Hate."

"I think we served our purpose as a symbol in representing the silence of student athletes," Merchant said. "I wish more people had been responsive to learning more about Coach Portland."

The focal point of the evening, though, remained the dinner, despite what went on in the halls outside the entrance.

"It's important to note that with a couple dozen protestors here, there are a couple hundred people supporting a very worthwhile fund that supports Penn State students," Penn State spokesman Tyson Kendig said. "I hope this doesn't detract from that fundamental point."

The evening featured guest speakers, one of whom was Penn State President Graham Spanier. Theresa Grentz, former teammate of Portland at Immaculata College, emceed the event as the two told tales of their playing days.

Merchant acknowledged that the award could not be revoked, but she felt that Portland should not have spoken on the occasion in the wake of Harris' claims.

"I don't think you can take an award from somebody," she said. "In a perfect world, they would have removed her as a speaker."

State College Mayor Bill Welch, recipient of the "Person of the Year Award" in 2002, was pleased that Portland was the latest recipient.

"[She's] been involved in all kinds of good works on campus and in the community," he said. "I am pleased that she is joining the ranks of us Renaissance honorees."

The LGBTQ attempted to educate the 400 people in attendance for the dinner while trying not to detract from the students who received scholarships.

"Our purpose was not to disrupt their function -- not to be negative," Merchant said. "Just to educate."

Attendees had mixed emotions on the distraction the protestors presented.

One scholarship recipient said she felt it took away from the evening.

"This was more for the students. [The protestors] were kind of putting a shadow on that," Katie Scott (freshman-agricultural business) said.

Others felt their presence was minimal.

"I didn't notice anything positive or negative," Board of Trustee member Dave Joyner said. "They conducted themselves in a very appropriate manner, and I don't think they affected the dinner negatively."

The night raised more than $103,000 and was very positive inside the hall, partly because Portland did not address the situation of the protestors or the allegations, according to the attendees.

Lady Lions sophomore guard Kamela Gissendanner said the night went well for Portland and that the protestors were "non-existent."