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View Full Version : Calling in 'gay' to work is latest form of protest



LiberalNation
12-09-2008, 06:15 AM
that's just stupid.

and when the employer says your gay ass is fired don't go whining descrimination. Most employees are replacable.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/ap_on_re_us/calling_in_gay

SAN FRANCISCO – Some same-sex marriage supporters are urging people to "call in gay" Wednesday to show how much the country relies on gays and lesbians, but others question whether it's wise to encourage skipping work given the nation's economic distress. Organizers of "Day Without a Gay" — scheduled to coincide with International Human Rights Day and modeled after similar work stoppages by Latino immigrants — also are encouraging people to perform volunteer work and refrain from spending money.

Sean Hetherington, a West Hollywood comedian and personal trainer, dreamed up the idea with his boyfriend, Aaron Hartzler, after reading online that a few angry gay-rights activists were calling for a daylong strike to protest California voters' passage last month of Proposition 8, which reversed this year's state Supreme Court decision allowing gay marriage.
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"We are all for a boycott if that is what brings about a sense of community for people," said Hetherington, 30, who plans to spend Wednesday volunteering at an inner-city school. "You can take away from the economy and give back in other ways."

Hetherington said he's been getting 100 e-mails an hour from people looking for volunteer opportunities, and that his "Day Without a Gay" Web site has gotten 100,000 hits since mid-November.

Despite Hartzler and Hetherington's attempt to fashion a positive approach, some organizers of the street demonstrations that drew massive crowds in many cities last month have been reluctant to embrace the concept, saying that it could be at best impractical and at worst counterproductive to "call in gay."

"It's extra-challenging for people to think about taking off work as a form of protest, given that we are talking about people who may not be out (as gay) at work, and given the current economic situation and job market," said Jules Graves, 38, coordinator of the Colorado Queer Straight Alliance. "There is really not any assurance employers would appreciate it for what it is."

Graves' group nonetheless is arranging for interested participants to volunteer at the local African Community Center in Denver. The agency said it could find projects to keep 20 people busy, but so far only 10 have pledged to show up, said Graves.

Scott Craig, a fifth-grade teacher at Independence Charter School in Philadelphia, had no problem requesting and being granted the day off. So many of the school's 60 teachers were eager to show support for gay rights they had to make sure enough stayed behind to staff classrooms.

About 25 teachers plan to take Wednesday off and to have their work covered by substitutes while they discuss ways to introduce gay issues to their students and volunteer at the local branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, Craig said. A letter telling parents why so many teachers would be out went home Monday.

"We want to get the conversation going in the community that gay is not bad," Craig said. "For kids to hear that in a positive light can be life-changing."

Join The Impact, the online community that launched protests last month over the passage of gay marriage bans in California, Florida and Arizona, has urged people to withdraw $80 from their bank accounts Wednesday to demonstrate gays' spending power, and to devote the time they might otherwise spend watching TV or surfing the Internet to volunteer work.

Witeck-Combs Communications, a public relations firm in Washington that specializes in the gay and lesbian market, published a study this year that estimated that gay and lesbian consumers spend $700 billion annually.

Bob Witeck, the firm's chief executive officer, said it would be difficult to measure the success of Wednesday's strike since gay employees occupy so many fields. And rather than suspending all consumer spending for the day, gay rights supporters would have a bigger impact if they devoted their dollars to gay-friendly businesses year-round, Witeck said.

"Our community leaders who are running book stores, newspapers, flower shops, coffee houses, bars and many, many other things are hurting right now, so paying attention to their needs during this hard time is an effective form of activism," he said.

Hetherington said he has been careful to design A Day Without a Gay — he came up with the name after the film "A Day Without a Mexican" and liked it because it rhymed — so no one feels excluded or threatened.

Noir
12-09-2008, 07:31 AM
lawl, how daft, the hetro's should have a 'call in hetro' day a week after, to show the organisors of this how important hetro's are in the workplace.

What a pointless protest.

avatar4321
12-09-2008, 10:10 AM
What exactly do they think this is going to do? They are a small minority group. So they dont show up to work to protest, what the hell does it matter? No one is going to notice. Except maybe employers who are really pissed.

Isnt it interesting that these people claim that protecting marriage is just a wedge issue that really doesnt matter, yet they go to extreme lengths to create phoney rights to same sex marriage?

Fire anyone who doesnt have a valid reason for missing work. Lots of people want jobs.

Little-Acorn
12-09-2008, 11:21 AM
Calling in 'gay' to work is latest form of protest
It's just the latest form of getting fired for cause, I'd say.

Go ahead, try it. It's a free country. And you're free to find another job afterward. But if you feel the "good" you've somehow done by "calling in gay" outweighs some time without a paycheck while you're job-hunting, then by all means go ahead.

darin
12-09-2008, 11:36 AM
Is that way I've seen Jim post today? he's home from work?

:p

:D

gabosaurus
12-09-2008, 11:38 AM
One of the stupidest things I have ever heard of. There are other forms of protest that reflect better on your cause.

crin63
12-09-2008, 12:01 PM
Why don't they make a real statement and not show up for work until we allow pervert marriage.

Little-Acorn
12-09-2008, 12:07 PM
Why don't they make a real statement and not show up for work until we allow pervert marriage.

If they want, I'd fully support their right to not show up at all, ever.

As I said, a free country.....

LiberalNation
12-09-2008, 12:10 PM
then you would just be paying their welfare checks and unemployment, might wana think that idea thru a bit more.

Little-Acorn
12-09-2008, 12:58 PM
then you would just be paying their welfare checks and unemployment, might wana think that idea thru a bit more.

Good point. We need to get government out of the business of supporting people who don't want to work. We've devolved Welfare to the states, which is a good start. We need to continue the trend.

I can buy insurance for in case my house burns down, or in case I get sick and spend the next year in a hospital bed. I should be able to buy insurance for in case I get laid off or fired, to tide me over until I get a new job. The more benefits I expect, and/or the more times I get fired, the higher my premiums will be. I can "adjust" my premiums by behaving in a way that causes my boss to not want to fire me.

Then it will be a truly "free" country. I'm free to hedge my bets by buying the appropriate level of insurance, and then work as I want... and my boss is free to treat me accordingly.

Thanks for the suggestion, LN. :poke:

Mr. P
12-09-2008, 04:19 PM
Calling in 'gay' to work is latest form of protest

As a fair and honest employer I feel your pain, so take tomorrow the next day and the next off. On second thought, I don't want you to feel anymore unnecessary pain so, just don't come back. :thumb:

jimnyc
12-09-2008, 05:52 PM
Holy crap, I can just picture me on the phone if I ran a business and someone "called in gay". After a few minutes of my laughter I would then probably laugh some more. Then I would tell him I don't employ queers and it's not a protected characteristic in my jurisdiction (so long as you employ less than 15) and laugh at him again. Then I would wait a few days and drive by the unemployment line and laugh once more. Then I would protest his unemployment due to insubordination. That's just me though.

red states rule
12-10-2008, 06:42 AM
Look on the bright side folks. Barney Frank will NOT be on the job today or on TV

avatar4321
12-10-2008, 01:22 PM
So did anyone actually do this? (Im not expecting anyone on the board to have done it. I just mean anyone in general)

Little-Acorn
12-10-2008, 01:23 PM
As a fair and honest employer I feel your pain, so take tomorrow the next day and the next off. On second thought, I don't want you to feel anymore unnecessary pain so, just don't come back. :thumb:

Gives the term "pink slip" a whole new meaning, doesn't it.