Several Dozen Protest Ladies Basketball Coach at Penn State Game
State College, PA
About three-dozen people chose the final home game for Pennsylvania State University’s Lady Lions basketball team as the venue for a protest against Penn State coach Rene Portland and the university.
The protesters, who had tickets for the game against the sixth ranked Ohio State University Buckeyes, came inside the Bryce Jordan Center and watched the contest without causing a disturbance. They laid out a rainbow flag on three rows of empty seats, then waved a large banner during halftime.
Former player Jennifer Harris has filed a federal lawsuit against Portland, accusing the coach of asking her to try to look more “feminine” and of maintaining a discriminatory policy against lesbians or those who she thought were lesbians.
Portland has vehemently denied the allegations. Several hundred fans at the game responded to the protest by holding up “We Believe in Rene” signs, distributed by Portland supporters before the game, a 61-59 loss to the Buckeyes.
Portland declined comment about the protest after the game. She has refused to talk about the subject except for a few written statements at the beginning of the season.
