Students, faculty and community members gathered in the Foster Auditorium in Pattee Library last night for a panel discussion addressing homophobia in athletics.

The discussion, "Playing the Team Game: on the field and in the locker room," focused on student athletes and coaches who are out in the community and the problems they encounter.

Robert Drago, professor of labor studies and women's studies, opened his discussion by saying he doesn't understand why there is a question about being out.

"In athletics, gender orientation is always out there," he said.

He said women who are out as coaches reported problems from fans, athletes and alumni.

Drago said that because Penn State is like the "Harvard of athletics," it's slightly different at the university than at smaller colleges.

Adam Pierce, a member of the Penn State men's swimming team, said nobody on his team or his coach has a problem with him being gay.

He said in high school, he was in gymnastics, and he was always called gay because gymnastics is "a stereotypical gay sport."

Pierce said that since he has come out in college, he's had the support of teammates, coach, friends and family.

Susan Rankin, senior diversity planning analyst in the office of the vice provost for educational equity, coached softball for 17 years, and her players knew she was gay.

"I identify as queer; it's a word that was used very derogatorily when I was growing up," she said.

During the discussion, there was a viewing of Out of Change: Addressing Homophobia in Women's Sports -- a documentary focusing on homosexuality issues in women's sports.

The documentary showed many female athletes who shared their experiences of being gay on their teams from junior high school to professional.

Eric Patridge (graduate student-integrative biosciences) said he was not treated well in high school when he was on his track and cross-country teams.

"My coach was an African-American male from New York City who discriminated using gender as a threat by saying 'y'all run like girls,' " he said.

He said that while he thought the discussion was good, it could have gone a lot further, but he's not sure if the Penn State audience is ready for that.

Rankin said it's about the power of the coaches. She said there are coaches in the NCAA who make their players dress and act a certain way.

"Image is huge in Division I sports. In my opinion, it's harder to be out as a male athlete than a female athlete," Rankin said.