Allies staged a Valentine's Day Kiss-OUT on the steps of Old Main yesterday to show solidarity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allies (LGBTA) rights on the day Allies President Ed Rowe called the "most heteronormative holiday."
Rowe said the second annual event was formed to reveal the discrepancy between straight couples' and gay couples' freedom to display their affection publicly. "The idea is that straight couples can show off their affection, but the LGBT community doesn't have that opportunity," he said.
Last year, the event spurred controversy after The Daily Collegian printed a front-page feature photo of a male couple kissing at the Kiss-OUT. A student wrote a letter to the editor in The Collegian denouncing the event and the LGBTA community. In the days following the printed letter, The Collegian also received hundreds of letters supporting the LGBTA community.
Rowe said the controversy drove Allies to hold a second Kiss-OUT with four couples supporting the LGBTA community.
"We knew we had to do it again," he said. "We're not going to hide."
Afton Vermeer (senior-criminal justice) and Sarah Morrison were one couple kissing. "I came out today to support gay people because it's incredibly hard for them to kiss their significant other," Vermeer said.
Fernando Disla (junior-anthropology) said he was disappointed no administrative members were there to support the group after last year's controversy.
Gretchen Lasser (junior-criminal justice) agreed with Disla. "It's a shame the university isn't trying to support positive change brought on by students," she said.
Rowe said that while he hoped the administration would show their support after last year's events, no university officials were specifically invited to the event or alerted it was scheduled. Penn State spokesmen Bill Mahon and Tysen Kendig were not available for comment by press time yesterday.
Rowe said the event was important for reminding the public that the LGBT community does exist. "We are human beings who love," he said.
