Subscribe to Breaking NewsDid you call in gay? Tell us your story!
, editor in chief, 365gay.com 12.10.2008 3:11pm EST
We here at 365gay are curious about whether our readers participated in the boycott today – either the work part or the economic part.
Did you call in gay? Did you refuse to spend money? Tell us what you did – or didn’t do – and why.
I did not because, despite the fact that Prop. 8’s defeat was a big slap in the face, it was not my employer’s fault. I also don’t think that avoiding spending is the solution either. If anything, calling in “gay” to work would just be one more reason for people to have a problem with me.
Absolutely not. I am out at work. My employer offers all the domestic partner benefits the law will allow. I am appreciated by my colleagues as a competent professional, and as a lesbian. To miss work because I’m gay would NOT make positive points. They all know I’m a lesbian, and it’s not a big deal. This would make it a big deal, and not in a good way. I refuse to punish them and my employer by missing a day of work for no good reason.
Volunteering? I do it all the time. I do some form of unpaid civic work almost every day and this is no exception. Don’t be silly; suggesting that we have one day when we all take up volunteering insults those of us who do it as a habit.
Avoid spending money? Well, I walk to work and bring my lunch, so I guess I did that sort of by accident.
Today I bought the New York Times, and paid for four pages of photocopies I made of radical books: Freak Show and A Dangerous Woman (graphic novel about Emma Goldman). Then I went to the library and submitted comments about how much I appreciate them having LGBT books and want more. I also left a comment about making the single-stall, exactly-the-same bathrooms gender neutral. Now I am off to babysit two wonderful boys. A fine day indeed.
I called in Gay today and my workplace totally supported it. I work for Camp Fire USA Inland Northwest Council; which is a totally inclusive organization. Calling in Gay today is a great way to celebrate human rights and educating people on the effects of continued marginalization of targeted groups. I’m also volunteering at the Inland Northwest LGBT Center in Spokane, WA.
I did not. These are very hard times. I don’t think boycotting the world is a way to get our point across. We ARE still a minority afterall. A day without us is a day that most people in this country would call a celebration. If anything, we should be visible, not go off and hide. That’s exactly what most people want in this country.
Instead of running and hiding, my coworkers and I discussed with our bosses and coworkers(rationally) our positions, our feelings and the relevance and impact that gay people make to society. We are using the occasion to strike up dialog and talking to people about our issues instead of being ignored.
This was a bad idea and exactly the kind of bandwagon, knee-jerk reaction that makes us look like a bunch of drama queens. Don’t hide, speak up!
Maybe next time, we could create an ad fund and all give a dime, quarter or dollar and take out a full page ad in the NY Times or something with a lot more visibility than just calling in sick to work and being completely invisible.
Yes I called in gay today to work. My boss was actually expecting it. I got some information that the Mormons were making a big deal about it, to bad for them I am represented by a union, a very glbt friendly union.
I work for an all gay company so no I did not call in. However, I wouldn’t if I worked for a republican operated corporation. Why? Because how does this make any point whatsoever. I agree with Karen this doesn’t show that we are competent, how does having a gay skip day earn us respect? What lazy person thought of this? This will only earn people more hatred when they return to work tomorrow in my opinion. It’s not like you have people calling in hetero. It goes with what mothers teach across the world to earn respect you must treat others the way you would like to be treated. Making your coworkers work harder to replace your absence isn’t respecting them.
I went in to work. My job is very gay friendly, supports me and everyone there was disgusted by Prop 8. Why should I hurt the people and job that support me? I can do more by helping my coworkers understand LGBT issues by talking to them about Prop 8 then boycotting businesses that don’t even know I am gay.
Yes, I did. But I am not sure what good it did. I am a teacher, with a very supportive staff. (They threw me a wedding shower after my partner and I were married.) I stayed home and cleaned house.
I can’t imagine gay firemen, police, surgeons, teachers, etc. abandoning their posts to make a point. Better that gays be known as the folks who stay at their posts no matter what. What’s also true is that gays own so many establishments that hire us, what point are we making to whom? As I felt about the post election street protests, we gotta come up with better, more interesting, more “high-road” ways to get our message out.
Having little available time off and a looming deadline, I chose to go to work today. As I passed them in a hallway, I heard one of my co-workers remark to another “He shouldn’t be here today,” referring of course to me. I didn’t take this as an insult in any way, in fact I took it as a statement of support. My point here is that (harkening back to the words of Harvey Milk), our greatest weapon in the fight for equality is to be out, proud, and visible. I am certainly not going to criticize those who chose to call in gay; I’m merely pointing out that there are other ways to go as well.
No. I work for a gay-friendly firm owned by gay men, so what would be the point? Just added work stacking up on me.
Nope. Just got home from work and the gym.
I took the the opportunity to discuss the gay marriage issue with coworkers. I was asked a couple times why I didn’t call in today. I explained that the company has a perfect score on gay issues with the HRC and have for several years. My company treats me very well. I see no reason to harm my co-workers or company.
And by the way, I hope those that thought it was “special” to volunteer take a few more “special” opportunities each month.
I call in and did what I do alot email all the State of Washington told them that the Gay Community is not going to stand down any longer for not having our Civil Rights and Gay Marriage. I been with my partner for 29 years. The Gay Community has back the Democracy Party and if they don’t do any thing we are going to get rid of them. Black Mail is the best way and stop funding ther campaign.
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