Day Without A Gay Promises Less Fabulous Hump Day

Our San Francisco sister blog reminds us that today is Day Without a Gay: "What is that? It's when those of you who prefer the sweet love of the same sex are supposed to call in sick, not buy anything, and go volunteer." So if you're gay and at work, get the hell out of there, honey, and help out at the ~~brunch~~ soup kitchen or something! Stereotypical joking aside, this is a serious protest to that Prop 8 jackassery in California (not to mention similar atavistic anti-gay initiatives passed by morons in Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas). Organizers say, "You are encouraged not to call in sick to work. You are encouraged to call in 'gay'—and donate your time to service!" We're not gay, but...wouldn't it be nice to show some solidarity and "service" Quantum of Solace today? In our absence, enjoy Hank Hertzberg's column reminding everybody not to blame blacks for tipping the Prop 8 balance in California—it's the Mormons.

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By John Del Signore in News on December 10, 2008 10:45 AM

Comments [rss]

Brooklynbobby

@Tingo, Do you only get a half-day if you're bi?

Now that's funny!!!

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

damn, I didn't know about this and I took the day off for personal reasons.

lena

Yes. Half-day if you are bi. Ha-ha-ha

tingo

Fashion, entertainment and art industries will be brought to their knees while the nail salons and bloomies will make bank.

A whole new meaning for 'stimulus package.'

Do you only get a half-day if you're bi?

Brado

So does this mean I can't get my hair done today?

JP Lynch

Many of my co-workers are gay or lesbian and they're all in the office today.

Yeah, this worked...

robingee

>> Why is it more the mormons fault than those who voted for this thing?

mormonsfor8.com

robingee

I don't think this protest will show anyone anything... the Prop 8 thing is funded and supported by a wacky religious contingent, and most people that would be affected by a gay co-worker or employee taking off are probably not part of that group that is discriminating against gays. Who will this hurt and what will this prove?

ANGRYGOD11

You have to wonder: How often does a majority of the voters decide to empower minorities? And doesn't that go against the idea your rights are ordained by God/nature and not by a voting booth?

ixvnyc

#16:

No, it's not democracy. It's the terror of the majority. Sort of like, if all whites got together and voted to send blacks to Africa, that wouldn't be democracy either.

Democracy is NOT the absolute rule of the majority. In this case, the majority violated the rights of minority, and therefore, it's not a democratic decision.

Tgirl

this is utterly idiotic

mrmagoo

this would be a good idea if it was an actual protest. a DAY isn't going to do anything. a week, a month maybe, but a day? i say we just stop designing dresses and planning weddings for straight people. let them tie the knot in a burlap sack in the middle of a barn for all i care.

enfant

I agree with longacre and jchez.

It's not a protest if the only thing it accomplishes is screwing over people that, first, may not even agree with P8, and second have nothing to do with who you fuck - like your boss or the coworker that will have to do your job. That's just being an inconsiderate idiot.

Plus, the "go volunteer" advice is just a lame attempt to try to diminish the guilt of not going to work. "I'm using my sexual preferences to get out of work pretending it will make gay marriage legal, but at least I'm making the world a better place." Shame on you.

matty

Why is it more the mormons fault than those who voted for this thing?

Kojak

FYI: Try not to call in Gay in Utah. It could be detrimental to your career.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11179153?Gay

Kojak

Exactly how does calling in Gay affect payroll? Is it technically calling in sick? Vacation day? How many gay days are employees allowed per year?

jchez

Nothing like showing your boss and coworkers that you are flaky and unreliable.

longacre

At last check being gay was not a legal excuse for not showing up to work. I wonder how many people will get fired over this, and then sue for "discrimination."

babyhitler

this finally confirms that my boss is a homo! dude called in sick, but I know it's cause he's gay.

zodak

i agree with nycviabos, calling out gay doesn't rally make much sense in this case.

lena

This is very cute. I don't care who's what, everybody is gay at least 1% of their personality. But the story line is too cute. Whoever came up with it is smart.

nycviabos

This form of protest was an interesting concept for the largely Latino population protesting against anti-immigrant laws and propositions. Since legal and illegal immigrants from Latin America now do much of the dirty, dangerous and undesirable jobs in the U.S., they are the often overlooked, but fundamentally important workers who make the U.S. economy run. For them, staying away from work as a form of protest goes directly to the issue of why they should be allowed to stay in the U.S.

The gay population in the U.S. is fighting much different forms of bigotry and fear. I don't see how this form of protest will have any positive effect.