Gay Blue Jeans Day
Encyclopedia
Gay Blue Jeans Day, alternatively National Gay Blue Jeans Day or just Gay Jeans Day is a celebration frequently advertised on college campuses in the United States in coordination with World AIDS Day
, Gay Equality Day, Gay Pride Week, or National Coming Out Day
. Students are encouraged to wear jeans on a particular day to communicate their support of gay rights.
The organizers of Gay Jeans Day at CMU analyse the action in this way.
During campus debates in the early 1990s about such Jeans Days, the Lesbian and Gay Alliance at Bowling Green State University
published a letter to the local newspaper indicating that part of the logic of using a common piece of clothing such as jeans was to demonstrate that, when jeans indicated participation in affirming such rights, people would deliberately wear another form of clothing in tacit protest.
Many supporters of the protest argued that the protest was effective because it forced heterosexuals to do something to actively engage in homophobia (wear something else that day), or wear their usual attire (blue jeans) and become possible targets of homophobia themselves, and that many people unaware of the
protest might wear blue jeans and be educated by becoming targets of homophobia
Others argue that the protest simply forces everyone to examine their own
personal relationship to homophobia by leaving no space to be uninterested.
. Other universities celebrate the day some time during Pride month (June) or on a day when many students will be on campus (eg. the first day of the semester).
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an...
, Gay Equality Day, Gay Pride Week, or National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day is an internationally observed civil awareness day celebrating individuals who publicly identify as bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender—coming out regarding one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity being akin to a cultural rite of passage for LGBT people...
. Students are encouraged to wear jeans on a particular day to communicate their support of gay rights.
The organizers of Gay Jeans Day at CMU analyse the action in this way.
- To let GLBT students on their campus know there is a supportive community.
- Jeans are chosen for this event because most people have a pair, and because deciding what to wear causes everyone -- no matter what their sexual orientation -- to think about how other people will react to their choice of clothing.
- Allow straight people to think about how others will react to their perceived sexual orientation, and to experience having to alter their normal behavior to avoid being perceived as gay.
During campus debates in the early 1990s about such Jeans Days, the Lesbian and Gay Alliance at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
published a letter to the local newspaper indicating that part of the logic of using a common piece of clothing such as jeans was to demonstrate that, when jeans indicated participation in affirming such rights, people would deliberately wear another form of clothing in tacit protest.
Many supporters of the protest argued that the protest was effective because it forced heterosexuals to do something to actively engage in homophobia (wear something else that day), or wear their usual attire (blue jeans) and become possible targets of homophobia themselves, and that many people unaware of the
protest might wear blue jeans and be educated by becoming targets of homophobia
Others argue that the protest simply forces everyone to examine their own
personal relationship to homophobia by leaving no space to be uninterested.
Date
The date and name of 'wear Blue Jeans if You're Gay Day' 'Jeans Day', 'Gay Jeans Day' etc. varies with place and time. BSC celebrates on October 11, the same day as National Coming Out DayNational Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day is an internationally observed civil awareness day celebrating individuals who publicly identify as bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender—coming out regarding one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity being akin to a cultural rite of passage for LGBT people...
. Other universities celebrate the day some time during Pride month (June) or on a day when many students will be on campus (eg. the first day of the semester).