LGB1999_1.pdf

Media

Part of Denim Day Unites Gay Community

Text: Denim Day Unites Gay Community
ties.
"I'm not gay and I'm not wearing
jeans as a sign of support for anything!" said one UB student. His
opinion does not stand alone;
Everyone wears jeans. Ideal for
comfort and style, denim is quite . many students have voiced concerns about the use of jeans - a
the ubiquitous fabric. Today
though, jeans are more than just
common component to any
wardrobe - as an icon for a set of
jeans - the piece of apparel is also
beliefs.
a symbol of gay pride.
"Being gay is just as normal and
"Gay Jeans Day'' is just one
natural as wearing jeans. There is
aspect of "Coming Out Week," a
nothing unusual about wearing
week-long affair which runs from
jeans, so this is an example of how
Oct. 11 to Oct. 15. During this
there'S nothing unusual about being
week; the movement encourages
gay," said Michele Tucker, the
homosexuals to acknowledge their
coordinator of the Coming Out
identity, and everyone else is
Support Group and a member of the
encouraged to promote tolerance
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Alliance.
and understanding, regardless of
"We understand that a lot of peosexual-orientation. However, some
students feel offended that wearing • ple may be offended by Gay Jeans
blue jeans automatically admils
see JEANS page 9
them into "Gay Jeans Day" festiviBy STEFANIE ALAIMO
Spectrum Staff Writer

Jeans
Day and don't understand why
jeans are being used as a
marker," said LGBA Vice
President Christian DiCano.
"We're just trying to illustrate
how being gay is something
that its ingrained in you, the
way people wear jeans without
really thinking about it."
On Oct. 12 at 7 p.m., the
2nd Annual Drag Competition
will occupy Harriman Hall.
The professional drag show
will take place in the Student
Union Lobby from II a.m. to
2 p.m. today.
"It's important to the students of UB to see that we're
having a good time and that
being visible isn't political,"
Tucker said.
Mocking criticism that
LGBA isn't active enough in
procuring gay rights, posters
advertising the show sarcastically proclaimed, "Because all
we do is drag shows."
DiCano refuted the allegation.
"It's not all about drag
shows," he said.
"However, it's the drag
shows that have the most universal appeaL and attract the

from front page
greatest audience. If we said
that our events were just 'a
gay thing' then no one would
be interested in attending."
Tucker also said that LGBA
would incorporate gay history
into both performances and
that the club encouraged people to take a stand against
intolerance by promoting
understanding for differences.
"Even though we want
everyone to have a good time,
one of our main goals is to
educate people," she added.
During Coming Out Week,
the LGBA will also support
many causes that affect the
gay community. One benefit
includes GRASP, a program in
which homosexuals openly
discuss what it means to be
gay.
The LGBA will also host a
conference on the weekend of
March 26, which they boast as
the largest LGBA conference
in the Northeast.
"It's more important then
ever for people to see that
we're a part of the community
and that we shouldn't be stigmatized or ignored," said
DiCano.

NOT JUST ABOUT DRAG SHOWS: Various pieces of activist literature decorate LGBA's office walls on the third floor of the Union.