National Day Without a Gay Encourages Same Sex Marriage Supporters to Call in Gay
After the Day Without a Mexican, We Now Have a Day Without a Gay. Could We Have a Day Without a Special Interest Group Myopic Agenda Bias Instead?
Wednesday is slated to be the "Day Without a Gay" when same sex marriage proponents are suggesting a nationwide call in gay day. Taking their clues from the "Day Without a Mexican," organizers of call in gay day want to illustrate just how integrated gays and lesbians are in everyday society.
Call In Gay Day is NOT a Day Off
ABC News reports that "Day Without a Gay" is run concurrently with the International Human Rights Day. Calling in gay organizers urge prospective participants to plan on using their day off for volunteer work but to "refrain from spending money." This form of economic protest coupled with hands-on charity could potentially have a huge impact ... were it not for a few problems with the setup.
Calling In Gay to Protest Election Outcome Alienates Communities
With the narrowest of margins, Proposition 8 ended gay marriage in California -- even after activist mayor Gavin Newsome (the man who would be governor) and activist judges ushered it in repeatedly. When gay marriage was overturned by voters, the backlash against the Christian community - and the Mormon faith communities in particular - has become harrowing.
Street protests in front of houses of worship, McCarthy-esque outings of entertainment industry professionals who contributed to the Proposition 8 campaign and also a muddling of the issues - referring to the ban of gay marriage as an "anti-gay" ballot initiative -- do little to create a unified front.
Day Without a Gay Isolates the Gay Community
Even as organizers are thinking of the Calling in Gay day as taking "a historic stance against hatred by donating love," they fail to recognize that pitting the gay community into an "us versus them" battle based on absolutes that so very rarely exist, will actually lead to a potential backlash.
While quoted on ABC News as being "all for a boycott if that is what brings about a sense of community for people," referring to anyone who failed to support gay marriage as a hater most likely will fail to create this very impression.
Confuses Losing a Job for Calling in with Getting Fired For Being Gay
Moreover, gays worried about being fired for gay day call in are urged to work on behalf of legislation that protects gay employees from workday discrimination. This approach shows an inexplicably myopic view of today's business environment that fails to recognize that anyone calling in for anything can be fired at the whim of the employer.
Once again it creates an atmosphere where any adverse action experienced by a member of the gay community automatically has to be traced back to the individual's sexual orientation, and not their actions, conduct, or perhaps external circumstances. This engenders a victim mentality that easily alienates rather than unites.
Sources: http://www.daywithoutagay.org/; http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6420501; http://daywithoutagay.wetpaint.com/page/But+I+Can%27t+Miss+Work%21?t=anon
Published by Sylvia Cochran - Featured Contributor in Automotive, Politics, Travel and Lifestyle
Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing -- full-time -- since 2005. SEO-optimized Internet copy includes news analysis, political Op/Ed and parenting as well as a... View profile
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Informative!
I cannot believe that in this day and age that we as a society are so close minded that we actually treat people so terrible all because of their sexual orientation.. Great write !
Now I've heard of National Gay Pride Day. But this is different. I have many gay friends. I dont know if they'll go through with this. As for for the day with out Mexicans, personall, and with no offense, I didnt notice. Mostly cuz my Mexican coworkers showed up for work. I saw that day as something that non-legal Mexican residents used to get into the country. No offense to any readers. I just dont get this Day without Gay. Interesting story though.
Now I've heard of National Gay Pride Day. But this is different. I have many gay friends. I dont know if they'll go through with this. As for for the day with out Mexicans, personall, and with no offense, I didnt notice. Mostly cuz my Mexican coworkers showed up for work. I saw that day as something that non-legal Mexican residents used to get into the country. No offense to any readers. I just dont get this Day without Gay. Interesting story though.
Great reporting!
great job handeling this!
I agree with Charles... I don't think it will do much other than be a news story for a day or two and then fade into the sunset.
great job Sylvia. i've always considered myself quite liberal on social issues such as "gay rights" but I'm becoming increasingly annoyed with the way the gay activist community continues to force their issues down the public's throat even in the face of fair democratic processes. we voted yes on prop 8. californians are not ready to give up their belief in marriage. put it on the back burner gays, you're just making yourselves look bad now. i say we vote again in 5 years. but don't protest something we already voted on. p.s. a day without a gay is the same as not buying gas from exxon for one day. no one will notice anything. stop screaming for attention please people.
I confess that I'm confused about the purpose of this day and need to up my info and the various stances about it (particularly by those in the gay community). I appreciate that you've raised awareness of this day.