Cornell's first "Gay Jeans Day," sponsored by D.A.S.H. (Direct Action to Stop Homophobia), was met with a variety of reactions.  The most dominant, however, seemed to be that of genuine confusion.  "Don't they realize that everyone wears jeans anyway?" one friend of mine asked, "Why couldn't it be Gay Red Shirt Day instead?"  Some speculated that jeans were chosen to increase a perception of support for the event, others assumed that "gay jeans" was a play on the concept of "gay genes."  At any rate, many felt that D.A.S.H. had missed something in declaring Wednesday, February 24 "Gay Jeans Day."

     Well, it was no accident that jeans were last Wednesday's garment of choice.  Nor was D.A.S.H.'s idea poorly contrived.  Gay Jeans Day relied on the commonality of blue jeans, not for the illusion of support, but for the number of individuals the message consequently affected.

     The intriguing concept was the subject of discourse in many circles and, whether met with curiosity, anticipation, or distaste, fulfilled it's purpose of raising awareness.  It got people talking.  Anyone who read one of D.A.S.H.'s announcements was forced to consider their actions on Wednesday.  Though it was easy enough to melt into a cloud of allegedly oblivious Cornellians, those who did dress with Jeans Day in mind, made a personal, if not particularly public statement.

     Some denim-draped individuals strode the campus, proudly displaying D.A.S.H.'s gay-friendly stickers: "Straight, but not narrow," "I support gay rights," "Queer and proud,' and "Yes, these are gay jeans."  Others were slightly less conspicuous in their support; the day's atmosphere provided them with that opportunity.

     College campuses nationwide have had Gay Jeans Day backed by the message "Wear jeans if you're gay." One function of such events is to make the majority of people who "accidentally" wear jeans uncomfortable, to evoke sympathy for individuals forced daily to feel "out of place" by our heterocentric society.

     Wednesday's purpose was not to identify people as queer or straight.  The subtext of D.A.S.H.'s posters read "Wear jeans if you support the rights of LGBT individuals."  The intent was not to make people uncomfortable, but to make them think.  It was individuals who consciously decided not to wear jeans, especially those for whom it is a standard of dress, that stuck out most of all.

     Deliberately avoiding denim said a lot.  It might have been a malicious attack on the ideas of equality and gay rights.  It might have labeled one homophobic. More likely, it said something about an individual's concern with image, desire to appear macho or conservative, or need to emulate the the actions of his/her peers.

     The Cornell College Republicans responded to Gay Jeans Day with "Khaki-Clad Conservative's Day."  That "event", contrived only after D.A.S.H.'s posters went up last Monday, was advertised on the College Republicans listserv as a vehicle to "show your support of social conservatism on campus."  The idea was dismissed by many as a petty attempt to demean the message of Gay Jeans Day.  In the end, its only result was to make those who unintentionally dressed in khakis a bit more uncomfortable.

Sincerely,

Justin Meli

Class of 2002