University of Pennsylvania’s weeklong celebration of LGBT culture is coming up, and this year’s theme, Queer Factor, will have students face their fears head-on in a unique spin on the popular “Fear Factor” television show.
This year’s QPenn Week will feature keynote speaker Larry Kramer, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter, playwright and author of “The Normal Heart,” which was made into an HBO movie last year starring Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Bomer and Julia Roberts.
“It is the biggest event for the Penn queer community,” said Cody Smith, a member of Penn’s LGBT Center. “It is important because we address issues affecting the LGBT community and create a dialogue.”
The weeklong event, which runs March 22-29, also increases the visibility of the LGBT community on campus.
“It broadens out the conversation to other Penn students,” said Smith. “The event helps us have a voice among the greater Penn community too because of the visibility.”
The week kicks off with the “QPenn Kickoff: David Bohnett Cyber Center Relaunch and LGBT History,” 2-4 p.m. at the LGBT center on campus.
The highlight of the week will be Kramer’s keynote, 7:30 p.m. March 26, location to be determined. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the LGBT center’s Facebook page.
The event concludes with the annual Pride Games March 29 at noon, at High Rise Field, followed by the Sancocho banquet, 6-9 p.m. at Arch Auditorium.
For more information, visit www.vpul.upenn.edu/lgbtc/.