The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Variety

Media Credit: RENEE ALYWORTH Kelly Musgrove signs up for the Lambda Alliance list serv as Shawna Scott, Lambda's executive director, looks on at Thursday's Gay Jeans Day at Tate Plaza. [Click to enlarge]

Homosexuality is the new black.

The Lambda Alliance, the University's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally student organization, hosted Gay Jeans Day on Thursday, a gay rights tradition of more than 30 years.

Signs, banners and Lambda representatives adorned the Tate Plaza to thank students for wearing jeans in support of the homosexual community.

"Gay Jeans Day is a way to bring queer rights and the queer community into the minds of everyone on campus in a fun sort of way," Lambda Executive Director Shawna Scott said. "We like to have this event because it gets people thinking; it starts a positive dialogue about the difference between acceptance and tolerance."

Although representatives of Lambda said Gay Jeans Day went well overall, there was a time on campus when homosexuality was considerably less popular.

"Last time we had this event (in 2005), there were people that got really upset and went home to change. There was actually a protest by the conservative newspaper, 'Guard Dawg,' as a result," Scott said. "We staged a counter-protest. I stood in the Tate Plaza in my underwear for five hours, so I think I won."

This year, however, student reactions seemed positive.

"I like people in love, regardless of what gender they are," said participating sophomore Heema Patel, a philosophy major from Lilburn.

Lambda holds open meetings every Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Lambda resource center, room 124 of Memorial Hall, and always welcomes both gay and straight students.

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