SpeakOut is a political action organization dedicated to protecting human dignity by advocating for fair and just treatment of all Penn State community members, inclusive of gender identiy, gender expression, and/or sexual/affectional orientation.

We believe all forms of bigotry, racism, homophobia, sexism, classism, heterosexism, anti-Semitism, ageism, ableism, religious/spiritual intolerance, etc. function to the detriment of our society, and we will attempt to work with other groups to combat hate and intolerance in all its forms, while fostering dignity and affirmation for all people.

We recognize that not all discrimination is overt. Though institutionalized inequalities such as sexism, racism and heterosexism may often go unnoticed by large portions of our society, these and similar, interdependent social injustices exist and must be identified and eradicated. We acknowledge our duty to fight for social justice.

Our goal is to improve Penn State and move it closer to its mission of improving the lives of the people of Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world.

SpeakOut was formed from the ashes of Allies in the Spring of 2006 by a group of students devoted to change. At the time, Penn State was dealing with the aftermath of well-publicized allegations of homophobia and racism against an athletic coach. Through the positive "Support Student Athletes" campaign, members of SpeakOut found a way to express their appreciation and admiration of all members of the sports teams, regardless of sexual or affectional orientation.

We participate in the very active LGBT community on campus, from helping with rallies to preparing educational presentations. A number of other resources and groups exist, and we encourage all of our members to explore them. These include: