Pride Week

Every spring semester, a week is set aside to celebrate the LGBTQA community here at Penn State. This week March 21^st through March 25^th is Penn State’s annual Pride Week for 2016.

I saw flyers in the HUB that promoted pride week and all its events but I didn’t pay it much mind.

On Wednesday, I got out of math and didn’t have much to do. There was a group of people outside of Old Main. They caught my attention and I walked over.

Eric giving his speech.

I quickly noticed the pride flag and I began to listen to a speech. It was a young man giving a speech, his name was Eric and he was from Nebraska. He explained how being from such a remote place it was hard for him to identify as his true self because it was practically unheard of. At the age of 17, he mustered up the confidence to tell his family, including his a dad, a raging homophobic. From the abuse he received at home from physical to emotional, he soon learned that sports would become his outlet. Since there are no major football teams in Nebraska, playing for their big team, the Huskies, makes you a local celebrity. Because people respected his talents, they became more open to him and the LGBTQA community. When Eric was done his speech he left us with some words of wisdom: “There’s only one you, take pride in that. Celebrate yourself.”

From this experience, I’ve learned that although laws are being passed such as the legalization of gay marriage, the community still does not get the respect they deserve. People are still very closed minded and concerned about the wrong things. I can never understand why people are so concerned about other people’s lives in a negative aspect and why they would want to lessen someone happiness. But in the words of Eric, “never stop being being yourself.” Being loving and accepting to everyone you meet.