Gay Marriage Activists Encouraging Followers To “Call In Gay” To Work Tomorrow
Yes. You read that right. Call in gay.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - 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.
Comedian and personal trainer? I read that and had to check to see if I was reading a news article or a press release for an episode of Will & Grace.
Regardless, this comes off a bit like those “everyone refrain from buying gas for one day” email campaigns you see when gas prices get really high. They don’t work, because advocacy aside people have to work. Using a sick day or a vacation day isn’t likely to bring the economy to its knees. Millions of people do that every day anyway.
Discussion question: Would you get sued for discrimination if you fired someone for “calling in gay?”
