By Jessica Lewis, News Editor

University students were presented with opportunity to test their ‘gaydar,’ on Thursday, March 18 as The Pride Network held their second Gaydar event. Students were faced with five women and attempted to guess who was straight by simply looking at them and asking basic questions. 

“We do a Gaydar Event every year to breakdown stereotypes,” said Christian Fuscarino, founder and president of The Pride Network at the university, “I think we were able to focus more on education this year but if we are able to refine the event and still bring in 175 people, then it is successful.”

Obtaining the contestants was a struggle for members of The Pride Network. They commented that the contestants of the show were preferred to not be from Hofstra, but because the pool was limited, two contestants were. “I had to drive down to South Jersey to pick her [a contestant] and bring her back,” Pride Network member Krystel Bracelly said. Another Pride Network member, William Moriarty, said that he also had to find room for his three friends and participants of the show to stay.

Questions such as, “can I see your fingernails,’ and “what kind of underwear are you wearing,” and “what’s your favorite T.V. show” were asked by audience members, in hopes of discovering which girl was straight.
“It started out amusing to see what type of questions were asked,” said contestant three (they asked not to be named), “and then it became annoying and almost offensive to find out that things such as what Disney Princess we liked allowed people to judge us.”

“I loved how the event engaged with the audience and it taught me that everyone is the same on the outside and they shouldn’t be prejudged by how they dress or act,” said Sophomore Jenn Picard.

Contestant Five, one of the participants revealed as a lesbian, said that she “thinks it [the event] brought out a lot about stereotypes.”

“I just get lot of stereotypes being a modified tattooed person,” said contestant one, the girl revealed as straight, “and I’m all about breaking down barriers and I have been wanting to get involved…most people didn’t think I was straight…its actually not unusual, people think that [I’m a lesbian] all the time so I guess its not that uncommon”

Contestants answer questions to help students decide their sexuality. (Sean M. Gates/The Chronicle )