Blue Jeans stirring up trouble
Monique Garcia
Daily Egyptian
mgarcia@dailyegyptian.com
It is unusual a pair of Levi's would make someone's blood boil, but that is just what happened in the 1970s, and its what a few people are trying to avoid today.
Today is Blue Jeans Day, a day in which gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people don denim as a way to demonstrate the normalcy of the gay community.
"This is a day to really show that gay and lesbians are just like everyone else," said Saluki Rainbow Network Co-Director Bradley Wilkins "People who wear blue jeans today are showing their support for gay and lesbian rights."
Wilkins noted that people sporting the political fashion statement do not have to be gay or lesbian, they just need to support the idea of equality.
SRN Faculty Director Paulette Curkin said in the past, some campus members got upset after they were unknowingly roped into supporting the cause.
Wilkins hopes increased publicity this year will prevent such uproar, but he is hoping to "stir the pot a little."
"We're not trying to attack anyone," Wilkins said. "We are just trying to show that gay and lesbian people aren't a weird mystery. Its not a personal attack, we just want to get the word out there and let gay students know that SRN is here, and they do have allies."
Curkin said last week that she believes the campus community has become less "homophobic" since the '70s and people have become more supportive.
"We might get some letters to the editor on that one," Curkin said. "But it is just about showing that gay people are no different from anyone else. They can wear jeans too."
Along with Blue Jeans Day, which is celebrated on the last day of GLBT Awareness Week, there will be a Brown Bag discussion at noon in the Student Center Ohio Room.
Organizers plan to discuss the events of the past week, and the impact the awareness week had among the campus community.
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Daily Egyptian Spring 04 
