Students rally on campus to celebrate BGLAD

In front of the peace sign on College Green yesterday, more than 30 students gathered to celebrate, learn and increase the University community's awareness of homosexuality as part of the week-long Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Days. "We are here today to celebrate ourselves," said Scott Reikofski, assistant director of Student Life Activities and Facilities, in a statement read at the rally. "BGLAD is not about flaunting our sexuality on Locust Walk, nor is it about attacking those who are unable to be tolerant. BGLAD is about affirming ourselves and educating others." More than 10 speakers came to lend their support, including Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. "We are here to celebrate all of us and all of you here," she said. And some speakers came to share their own personal experiences about "coming out." Nursing sophomore Ashley Paine, a Facilitating Learning About Sexual Health representative, described how difficult it was to find a homosexual with whom she could comfortably discuss her feelings during a transitional time in her life. Other speakers came to educate the University community about homosexuality. "Homophobia is not just a matter of verbally harassing or physically harming," said Kurt Conklin, a health educator at Student Health Services. "Homophobia is also a matter of closing our lives off to the possibility of loving and caring for many more people in the world. "When a father stops hugging his son beyond the age of five because he is afraid it will teach the wrong message to his son -- the dad and son both are living the reality of homophobia," he said. The rally was a time for sharing and mingling. Some came to support friends who were speaking. Others stopped on Locust Walk to listen to what was being said. But most came to show that they are not ashamed to be lesbian, gay or bisexual. "These types of events are really important for the educational community," School of Education graduate student Philip Tromovitch said. "Prejudice and the problems that exist in society are primarily due to ignorance. BGLAD and similar events help to educate the community about issues they may not have a full knowledge of." Bob Schoenberg, coordinator of the Program for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community at Penn, said BGLAD is intended to "give gays, lesbians [and] bisexuals at Penn a chance to be proud." It also "helps make the general Penn community aware that the LGB people are here at Penn and educate them about our needs and concerns," he said.

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