Love was in the air for everyone gathered around the steps of Old Main last night.

More than 20 students showed up in the wintry weather in support of the third annual Penn State Kiss-OUT.

The SpeakOUT-sponsored event, which is has been held every Valentine's Day, was scheduled for yesterday at noon, but students saved their kisses until university activities proceeded at 5 p.m.

"Take it or leave it," Ryan Elliott (freshman-liberal arts) said about the Kiss-OUT.

"Just don't bash it."

Participants of the Kiss-OUT were encouraged to hold hands, hug or kiss each other to show their love.

Elliot, a Kiss-OUT participant, said homosexuality should be a non-issue and that people should not be harassed.

"It is merely a personal display, and they should not be attacked," Elliot said.

He also said he hopes that future events integrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies (LGBTA) even more into the whole rest of the Penn State community.

"It should be more wholesome than just the one community," Elliot said.

Christina Swomley, president of SpeakOUT, said the Penn State Kiss-OUT is organized to increase visibility of the LGBTA community on Penn State's campus and to spread awareness of the privileges of heterosexual people, such as public displays of affection.

"Gay couples can enjoy these same privileges," Swomley said. "We do exist."

Swomley said that there is often a double standard that exists when members of the LGBTA community display their affection on Valentine's Day, as well as every other day of the year.

"We wanted to create an atmosphere that was safe for people to express their love today," Swomley said.

Swomley said some people are able to find pockets of space where it is safe for them to go like the LGBTA Resource Center, but some people do not.

"People are afraid to report the hate because they believe that by not saying anything they are protecting themselves," Swomley said.

Nicole Barrett (senior-psychology) said the point of Kiss-OUT is not to shove homosexuality in people's faces.

She said that gay and lesbian couples should be able feel comfortable walking around holding hands in the daytime.

"People should know that if you see same-sex people kissing or hugging, that calling them 'faggot' and making comments is hurtful," Barrett said.