Although many NIU students had not been born when the first Jeans Day was observed 19 years ago, today’s Jeans Day marks a step toward increasing the gay awareness of the entire NIU community.

The NIU Gay/Lesbian Union hopes to promote the “awareness and education” of gay and lesbian students through the upcoming events of Gay Awareness Week, said GLU co-president Stephen Hermann.

“We are an invisible minority,” said the other co-president of the GLU, who asked that her name not be used. The purpose of Gay Awareness Week is “mainly to give people a chance” to see “that we’re here,” she said.

“Being here in college, we’re thrown into a culture of many cultures,” said the female co-president. The GLU wants “people to leave their minds open,” she said.

Gay Awareness Week began with the Tuesday night performance of Kitty Barber, a lesbian musician. Today’s Jeans Day allows students to show their support for homosexuals by wearing jeans and “to show you care and support human rights,” GLU member Brian Subatich said.

Gay Awareness Week is “a chance for the university to become recognized,” he said. Gay Awareness Week will give students a chance to see what the GLU has done, he said.

There will be an open house with free refreshments from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Capitol Room in the Holmes Student Center.

An open panel discussion will be held Thursday in Glass Room B in Lincoln Hall at 7 p.m. The discussion will include the lifestyles of homosexuals and past achievements of the GLU, Subatich said.

The 19th Annual Gay Awareness Week Dance will be held on Friday from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. The GLU will accept donations of $3 at the door.

The GLU has been recognized by the Student Association for the past 20 years, which is the longest any organization has been recognized by the SA, Subatich said.