At noon Monday, April 11, students and community members joined the Penn State Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity for a march and rally to mark Campus Pride Month.

Monday’s crowd began their march at the HUB. There, people carried signs and flags in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

The group made their way across campus and chanted, “Hey-Hey, Ho-Ho, homophobia must go!”

The group even made a quick pass by the Willard Preacher as he chanted, “We are Penn State! We’re not straight!”

According to tradition, the march ended at Old Main. There, on its steps, the group held a proud rally to continue showing their support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Sonya Wilmoth, director of the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, was the first to speak at the rally.

“Here I have a family,” Wilmoth said, referring to her ability to live authentically at Penn State through her supportive community.

Different students and community members expressed their thanks for their place at Penn State, while some shared their frustrations with the current campus climate.

Throughout the afternoon, community members enjoyed each other’s company and the opportunity to hold an in-person gathering for the first time since 2019.

While Monday’s march and rally are over, Campus Pride Month is far from over. Discover our overview to learn more about upcoming events on campus throughout the month of April.