By asking indirect questions, students determined panelists’ sexual orientations at the Sacramento State PRIDE Center’s annual “Guess Who’s Gay” event on Thursday.

Joshua O’Connor, host of “Guess Who’s Gay” and conduct coordinator at the UC Davis residence halls, reserved the right to reject any question if it would too easily reveal the 10 panelists’ sexual orientations. Otherwise, the crowd was allowed and encouraged to ask anything it wanted.

“Some people really do think that questions like, “boxers or briefs,’ or, “tacos or burritos,’ are going to determine someone’s sexual orientation,” Harris said.

About 250 people – most of which were students- filled the Redwood Room to watch the interactive show.

“We’re really excited that the Sacramento State campus community was so thrilled to do this event,” Harris said. “The fact that the people and administration of the campus are behind us is phenomenal.”

The panelists, if they felt too uncomfortable, had the right to not answer any of the questions.

“It was a little nerve-racking, especially with the fact that people just assume a lot of things about me, but I really appreciated it,” said Addison Pressnall Duff, a senior sociology major and “Guess Who’s Gay” panelist.

Among what the contestants were asked were what their Halloween costumes will be this year; their majors; what their favorite Lady Gaga songs are; their favorite colors; if they know how to change a tire; how long it takes for each of them to wake up and get ready in the morning; their relationships with their mothers; the most money each has spent on a single article of clothing; and their opinions on Justin Bieber.

“It’s funny, it’s very comfortable, very open, and it’s just fun to come and hang out with this bunch of people,” third-year biology major Georgina Rodriguez said. “You never expect the outcome of the people.”

The second portion of “Guess Who’s Gay” was for the crowd to determine by a show of hands who it considered homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual, among the panel. After the panelists each revealed their sexual orientation, O’Connor asked the members of the audience to raise their hand if they correctly guessed all 10 of the contestants’ sexualities. One hand was raised.

“There are a lot of misconceptions and preconceived notions that people have of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and straight individuals,” said Jackson Harris, programs and events coordinator of the PRIDE Center, and junior in public relations. “”Guess Who’s Gay’ shows that their sexual orientation has nothing to do with their interests, appearance, or their mannerisms,”

Micah Stevenson can be reached at [email protected]