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'Jeans Day' aims to raise awareness of gay, bisexual right

By Melanie Cohen
Daily Staff Reporter

Students in jeans walked all over campus yesterday in support of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) rights, many unaware their clothing was symbolic.

Jeans Day is a national day of awareness of the LGB fight for equal rights, said Erika Banks, a planning team member of the Queer Unity Project.

"The whole point was to see who wasn't wearing jeans today," said Art senior Ryan LaLonde, the head of QUP. "It was interesting to see those who blatantly didn't wear jeans went completely out of their way to wear no denim whatsoever.

"This day was created so we would look like the normal everyday college students and basically forced those who don't support gay rights to be out and blatant," LaLonde said. "They'll stick out instead of us."

Awareness and discussion of LGB rights -- or the lack thereof -- were goals Banks outlined for Jeans Day.

"My hope is that people talked about what this day meant to them, and hopefully this will be the start of a continuing dialogue that will increase the awareness of LGB issues all over the country," said Banks, a Music sophomore.

Denim clad or not, many students were ignorant it was Jeans Day yesterday.

"I wear jeans every day, but I don't have any problem supporting gay rights," said LSA sophomore Mike Kuznetz. "I didn't know it was today, but I knew it going on sometime soon."

"I don't even know what Jeans Day is," said LSA sophomore Steven Rosenblatt. "It doesn't matter (that I'm wearing jeans), I guess."

"I plead ignorance," said LSA senior Steve Yir. "Now that I found out, I'm glad I wore jeans. However, I think it's silly because jeans are a staple in every college kid's wardrobe."

Not everyone voiced support for Jeans Day or LGB rights.

"I'm upset I wore jeans," LSA sophomore Erik Syverson said. "I would not have worn jeans if I had known because it conflicts with my religion. Also, I think it's stupid to have Jeans Day because it gives a false impression. Everyone wears jeans."

Banks said publicity was a problem for an event like Jeans Day.

"I think it went well," Banks said. "I hope the organization of the event is better next year. The mass mailing on e-mail will not occur again."

"Unfortunately, the problem with publicity of an event like this is that the people we would like to start talking to about these issues aren't getting the message. We'll have to use fliers next year," Banks said.

A e-mail group called fags@umich.edu sent a message to many University organizations saying students should wear shoes in protest of lesbian, gay and bisexual rights.

"A member of QUP sent out mass e-mail to inform the campus it was Jeans Day," LaLonde said. "The rebuttal was over 450 messages saying, `Do not send me anymore of this faggot e-mail,' which hurt me as much as the anti-gay group that has formed and begun Shoes Day. This hurts because it's blatant discrimination and hatred."