Don't feel like work this morning? You're in luck - it's call in 'gay' day

Wednesday, 10th December 2008

Written by Francesca Cookney

America's same-sex marriage supporters are calling for LGBT workers across the country to 'call in gay' as they launch the first ever 'Day Without a Gay'. It comes as a protest against last month’s Proposition 8 which put an end gay marriage in California, despite it having been made legal only months earlier.

Following in the footsteps of The Great American Boycott in 2006 (also jokingly referred to as A Day Without an Immigrant), organisers Sean Hetherington, and his partner Aaron Hartzler decided to promote ‘Day Without a Gay’, scheduling it to coincide with UN International Human Rights Day on December 10. Like the Boycott, the idea is to show the US how much it depends on hard-working gays and lesbians but rather than encouraging people to stay home, Hetherington and Hartzler are suggesting that strikers use the day off to get involved in voluntary work.

“We are all for a boycott if that is what brings about a sense of community for people,” said Hetherington in answer to those who question whether skipping work is advisable in the current economic climate. “You can take away from the economy and give back in other ways.”

He has also been careful to warn high school students that truanting is not an acceptable form of protest. Likewise he has ensured that nobody feels under pressure to campaign in such a blatant manner, offering alternative opportunities to those who cannot miss work or who are not ready to ‘out’ themselves so unrestrainedly.

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