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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University will observe Queer Pride Week May 12-17 with programs ranging from a candlelight vigil to lectures, dances and workshops.

The focus of the week is to bring help build acceptance throughout the community, said Andi Charlton, Queer Pride Week organizer.

"I would like to see us begin to build bridges of acceptance and understanding with people who don't know much about the queer community," Charlton said. All events are free and open to the public. For a complete list of activities, contact the OSU Rainbow Continuum at 541-737-6360 or the Queer Resource Center at 541-737-9161.

The OSU Memorial Union Quad will be the home all week to the "Queer Pride Tent," where students and staff can gather for a brown bag lunch and music at noon, Monday through Thursday.

Special sessions by guest lecturers include discussions such as "Interpersonal Violence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning Relationships" by Robin Keillor and Paige Warner, of University Counseling and Psychological Services at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, in the OSU Women's Center.

The week begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, with a candlelight vigil at the MU north steps. The vigil will be followed at 8:30 p.m. with a reception at the campus Women's Center.

At 4 p.m. on Monday, May 13, a student panel will gather in the MU Lounge to discuss sexuality.

Tuesday, May 14, will feature a variety of recreational sports from 1 to 6 p.m. in the MU Quad.

At 2 p.m., on Wednesday, May 15, in the MU Lounge, "Homosexuality and the Bible," will be the topic of Tim Stover, adviser for the United Methodist Student Movement of the First United Methodist Church, Corvallis.

Individual programs in Queer Pride Week are sponsored by the Rainbow Continuum, The Queer Resource Center Associated Students of OSU's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgendered, Queer, Questioning, Intersexed and Women's Task Forces, The Asian-Pacific-American Student Union, Hewlett-Packard Co., the International Students of OSU, and Student Involvement's Diversity Development and Women's Center.