Halfway through the 2007 Pride Week celebrations, a New York Times best-selling author commended the Penn State gay community last night for living "authentic lives."

"When I was your age I did not have the courage to live like you do. That is, to be open and out and be who you are," E. Lynn Harris said.

Harris -- an openly gay, black author of nine novels and a memoir -- relayed his struggle to come out of the closet and his search for happiness to an audience of more than 80 people in HUB Alumni Hall.

All nine of his fiction novels involve gay or bisexual characters, and the memoir recounts his personal experiences of discovering and accepting his sexuality. He said his first novel, I Say a Little Prayer, sold more than 900,000 copies.

Harris said he hid his sexuality from most people during his youth. By the time he graduated from college, he had no idea whom he was, he said. "The easiest thing to do is tell the truth, because you never have to correct the truth," Harris said.

Harris also encouraged the audience to follow dreams. "Find something you'd do for free, and then find out how to get paid," he said.

After working as a computer salesman and losing a best friend to AIDS, Harris said he fell into a deep depression. He found that writing uplifted him, he said, and he has never stopped.

"I would write for free, but thanks to you people I don't need to," Harris said with a laugh.

In addition to writing novels, Harris works as a professor at the University of Arkansas and gives speeches all over the country.

Having spoken at more than 70 universities nationwide, Harris said his campus visits are one of the most rewarding aspects of his work.

"They can learn from my mistakes," he said a press conference prior to the speech.

Harris, who speaks to student groups about both gay and race issues, said he never has a speech planned when he gets in front of an audience. "I jot down a few bullet points, a say a little prayer and I go with it," he said. "I try to talk to human beings about what we have in common instead of our differences."

Brittany Leninger (senior-sociology) said that Harris' detailed descriptions of his life experiences made the speech colorful and interesting.

"It was good to hear about his personal life," she said. "He also seemed very thankful for all of his fans."