Library, Museums and Press Staff
October 14, 2026

A View from the Vault: Out in Public - Jeans Day and Gay Visibility at UD in 1982

by John Caldwell, associate librarian and political and public policy papers archivist

 

In honor of National Coming Out Day on October 11, I wanted to highlight a moment of queer UD history. The April 16, 1982, edition of the newsletter Out, published by the University of Delaware Gay Student Union, announced the slate of events for “Lesbian and Gay Awareness Week- A Celebration of The Gay Lifestyle.” The week began with “Jeans Day” on Friday, April 30th. Jeans Day was a regular initiative by the Gay Student Union at the time, encouraging gay/queer students to wear jeans as a sign of pride and visibility. 

Expanded upon in a letter to The Review by the Gay Student Union officers and staff published on April 30, Jeans Day “attempts to demonstrate that Gays exist, and deserve fairer treatment than they receive.” The display points out the presence of LBTQ+ people as active members of the campus community, and, importantly, shows someone who might still be afraid to come out that they are not alone and do not have to “suffer in silence” for being who they are.

 

Typewritten newsletter cover page titled "OUT" (Vol. 6, No. 6), published on April 16, 1982, by the University of Delaware Gay Student Union, detailing the schedule for Lesbian and Gay Awareness Week.

 

The Gay Student Union at UD began publishing Out in 1977. The newsletter was published every two to three weeks during the academic year, providing information about Gay Student Union programs, resources for members of the LGBTQ+ community on campus and in the Newark area, national queer news, and artistic submissions including poetry and cartoon strips. Highlights from the April 16, 1982, issue includes housing assistance for the summer, a notice about the presentation of Kaposi’s Sarcoma (known at the time as “gay cancer” because of its connection to HIV/AIDS) in heterosexual patients, and a reprint of Kurt Erichsen’s syndicated LGBTQ+-themed comic strip “Murphy’s Manor.

 

Typewritten notice titled "Housing" from the Gay Student Union offering roommate and summer housing assistance.

 

Typewritten clipping titled "CANCER" referencing a Wall Street Journal report on Kaposi's Sarcoma.

 

A four-panel black-and-white comic strip titled “Murphy’s Manor” by Kurt Erichsen. Two characters converse in a doorway about wine, food, and party preparations. In the first two panels, a woman standing inside near a door and potted plant speaks with a man who appears to be arriving. In the third panel, the man stands alone by the doorway, saying, “I am.” In the final panel, the woman walks away carrying a box, while the man’s speech indicates that he does not need guests to throw a party. The comic features detailed hand-drawn figures, speech bubbles, and a vintage newspaper-comic style.

 

Special Collections has a small collection of Out news letters from 1981-1982 as part of the Chris Oakley collection of alternative press. Though limited in scope, the content of these newsletters point to a long history of LGBTQ+ activism and community aid on campus.

Citation: Out: University of Delaware Gay Student Union Newsletter 6, no. 6 (1982). MSS 0471, Chris Oakley collection of alternative press, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware. 

Direct link to folder in finding aid: https://findingaids.lib.udel.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/163202

Link to finding aid: https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?mss0471 

 

“A View from the Vault” showcases some of the unique, notable or rare items that are a part of the Special Collections and Museums holdings at the University of Delaware. Each month, we highlight a different work and share interesting facts or intriguing histories about it. If you are interested in seeing any of the materials featured in person or want to learn more about any work showcased in the series, please contact Special Collections and Museums at AskSpec or AskMuseums.