Wearing a rainbow-colored knit cap and holding a video camera, Christina Swomley approached two women heading into the Bryce Jordan Center and offered them a button reading, "I support student athletes."

"Please don't bother us," one of the women said as she quickened her pace toward the door.

Swomley, president of SpeakOut, which was formerly the campus group known as Allies, an activist organization of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender individuals and their allies, was one of about 15 people demonstrating yesterday in front of the BJC before the first Lady Lions home game of the season.

After the women passed by, Swomley turned and addressed the video camera.

"The good, the bad and the ugly," she said, referring to the varied reactions displayed by people who saw the demonstration. While some people refused the buttons and
ribbons being handed out, others smiled and pinned them to their clothes.

Yesterday's game not only marked the first Lady Lions home game of the season, it also marked the first game since head coach Rene Portland was found in violation of Penn State's anti-discrimination policies and fined $10,000.

In April, an internal university investigation found that Portland had discriminated against former Lady Lion player Jen Harris on the basis of perceived sexual orientation by creating a "hostile, intimidating and offensive environment," according to a university statement.

Swomley said while the demonstration was a continuation of the group's efforts in the spring, the tone was changed to be a more positive general showing of support for student athletes.

"This year we're focusing on the students because there's not much we can do about Rene Portland right now," she said.

At the rally, students wore rainbow ribbons, held a giant rainbow flag and displayed signs reading "We support our LGBTQ athletes!!"

No anti-Portland signs or chanting could be heard, though group members acknowledged that the coach's continued employment at Penn State was one of the reasons why they were demonstrating at the game.

"A lot of them don't feel comfortable," Josh Miller, a member of SpeakOut, said. "They try to fit into the stereotype of who they have to be if they're an athlete."

Jo Dumas, lecturer in the College of Communications, saw the rally and said she supported the group's message.

"I think that the presence here is a testament to the importance of equality and freedom and the right to human dignity for everyone in our community," she said. "I support these principles, and I think they're in line with the Penn State principles."

Ed Rowe, former SpeakOut president, took part in the rally. He said he felt the Penn State administration has pressured SpeakOut to take a more positive stance in its demonstrations.

"Let's put a positive spin on everything. Think of all the lesbians that Rene Portland didn't find out about and didn't kick off the team," he said. "It's not easy to be queer within the realm of Penn State athletics."

As they did last season, some students who attended the rally also stayed for the game, spreading a rainbow flag over several unoccupied seats.

Swomley said the positive tone of the demonstration continued inside the BJC.

"We showed our support just as any other fan would," she said.