Few participated in 'call in gay' day to protest Prop 8 same-sex marriage ban

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By Lisa Leff

SAN FRANCISCO — A day-long work stoppage for which people were encouraged to "call in gay" to express support for same-sex marriage drew spotty participation Wednesday, with some gay right activists praising the event and others questioning its value.

People who opted to take the day off from their jobs as part of the national "Day Without a Gay" were encouraged to perform community service, and charitable organizations across the country said they had volunteers showing up.

"Visibility is really important for the gay community, so after a lot of thought I decided I would come out and be visible with my colleagues at work and use the time working for the community," said Carrie Lewis, 36, a University of California health researcher who spent the day working at the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center.

The protest, which a gay couple from West Hollywood organized through the Internet, was designed to demonstrate the economic clout of same-sex marriage supporters following the passage of voter-approved gay marriage bans in California, Arizona and Florida last month.


Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11188303?ncl...

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. That sucks but let's face it most people have no job security right now.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. I did. Others did. Despite next to no coverage. It's a good start. nt

[Sex Pistol]

3. NSS. This not the time.

[Occulus]

10. Not the time?

Okay- when?

[Sex Pistol]

15. I'll have to get back to you on that.

[AllentownJake]

4. I thought this was a dumb idea

I'm fully behind the cause but calling in gay just seemed stupid. I'd have trouble taking a co-worker seriously if they called into work gay. Unless you work for the Mormon church or you know your employer helped fund prop 8 why are you punishing your employer

[Warpy]

5. People who still have jobs are going to want to keep them

and that means small scale protests like this one will go nowhere.

[TrogL]

6. CBC covered it favourably

Interviewed some people doing volunteer work instead of showing up for work.

[slackmaster]

7. All of the openly LGBT people showed up where I work

Just like the Mexicans all showed up on the day there was supposed to be a general strike by them.

[RCinBrooklyn]

8. Economics trumps all. I know no one who called in - jobs are scarce.

[Zhade]

9. It's because we can be fired for it.

: (

[TankLV]

13. Exactly - thank you...

I did NOT participate.

I don't have the luxury of GETTING FIRED for this STUNT.

Now is not the time.

Besides, I have a very gay friendly company - the current CEO is gay - and everyone knows I'm gay - and it's not even a concern...

We're too busy doing our jobs to have time to take notice...

[ogneopasno]

11. Why would gay people want to do "community service" for a community that doesn't recognize

some of their basic human rights? Just wondering.

[EFerrari]

14. Because community building is one of the cornerstones of any movement?

Just a wild guess.

[-..__...]

12. I wonder...

how much of this was offset by straight people whom had thought about calling in that they wouldn't be in today (for valid or personal reasons), but didn't because of the connection/implications?