Someone had written “fags suck.”

The defaced poster, which advertised the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Alliance Awareness Days, was found Saturday night on the first floor of Welch Hall.

“It’s ironic because no one really thinks that bashing gays is cool, no one thinks that proves your masculinity,” said Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, LGBTAA president.

Incidents such as these are one of the reasons for Awareness Days, a week to raise awareness and promote tolerance of the LGBT community, said Beatty-Hansen, an undecided sophomore. Awareness Days begins on the ISU campus this week.

“This is a way for everybody to get out and show their support,” she said.

Awareness Days are the spring counterpart of Coming Out Days, which are held during the fall, said Scott Reichmann, LGBTAA treasurer.

A number of events are planned during the week, beginning with the Awareness Days Rally at noon today at the Hub. Reichmann, junior in aerospace engineering, said the event’s location is a change from previous years, but the LGBTAA hopes to be more visible in the new location.

The purpose of the rally is to kick off the week, talk to people and answer questions, he said.

Beatty-Hansen said Monday is also “wear blue jeans day” to show awareness, because most people know someone from the LGBT community, even if they do not know it.

“It’s to show that awareness of LGBT issues is more common,” she said.

There will be an event to promote ally awareness at noon Wednesday in the Regency Room of the Memorial Union. Reichmann said the awareness session will be to honor allies for their support.

“Allies are important to our group and to us as individuals,” he said.

During the LGBTAA meeting this week at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Cardinal Room of the Union, there will be speakers from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Reichmann said PFLAG is a group which exists for straight family members of homosexual individuals.

“I think it’s great that parents and friends and allies have a group to show support because it’s really necessary,” Beatty-Hansen said.

She said PFLAG members can be compared to supporters of the civil rights movement or men who support women’s issues because it’s necessary to gain acceptance.