There is no denying it — there is some hostility to members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community on Penn State’s campus. You may have heard negative comments from strangers on the street, in class or at the gym. Or maybe your roommate has told you that it makes her uncomfortable to see two men kissing. But there is no way to ignore that some of our peers have animosity directed at those who identify themselves as members of the LGBT community.
The LGBTA Student Coalition and Rainbow Roundtable co-sponsored the HUB Takeover event on Monday to kick off Pride Week.
Upon entering the lobby of the HUB-Robeson Center, students were greeted by two enormous rainbow balloon arches, rainbow flags and posters promoting pro-LGBT messages.
The HUB Takeover began Pride Week 2013, which will be a two-week affair this year. Throughout the next two weeks, there will be many events to raise awareness about the LGBT community.
While the intentions for Pride Week are good, it seems like the event might reach a wider range of students if more student groups got involved.
And maybe instead of having a lot of smaller events, attention could be focused on a handful of more widely-promoted, larger events throughout the two-week span.
It is evident by the lack of turnout during Monday night’s “Straight Talk” panel that student interest in attending Pride Week events is not where it could or should be. Only about 10 students attended the panel discussion, which had a goal of educating the university community on sexual orientation, gender identity and oppression.
Even though not many people attended, there is still a need for events like Pride Week to promote acceptance toward all members of the Penn State community
So additionally we ask other groups to consider promoting Pride Week or getting involved themselves. If organizations like the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic council, Association of Residence Hall Students, University Park Undergraduate Association, Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, among others united forces, so much more would be able to be accomplished in promoting equality on campus.
