We’re getting a great deal of discussion on The Impact about the Day Without a Gay. A lot of people have questions about what to do on December 10th, why we chose the 10th, or why we chose this event in general. As such, I thought I’d take a minute to explain the purpose behind Day Without a Gay (although David Craig has his own personal story that explains why he came up with this idea).
Simply put: The LGBTQ Community contributes $700 Billion per year to the US Economy. When you put that into perspective, that’s the same amount as the economic bailout package. Our community could be, in a sense, the economic bailout… so we’re good enough to put billions a year into the system, but not good enough to be afforded the same rights as everyone else who contributes to that system? This is ONE of the THREE things Day Without a Gay is all about.
- An economic boycott for 1 day. On December 10th: International Human Rights Day. Do not use your phone, do not turn on the TV, do not go online, do not buy ANYTHING. Take it one step further if you wish: take $80 out of your bank account and keep it in your pocket all day. We are taxpaying citizens who are asking for the same rights as every other tax paying US citizen.
- A day of VOLUNTEERING. That’s right. Don’t sit in your house with all your lights off staring at the wall. Let’s get out there and show this world just how much our community has to offer. There are many ways to volunteer: Go to a soup kitchen, talk at a local school, work at a retirement center, collect food for the LGBTQ Food Drive, or work with your local LGBTQ organization to get marriage equality petition signatures in your area. Join The Impact is teaming up with the Courage Campaign to gather 1 Million Signatures to repeal Prop 8. These are just a few ideas.
- A day of VISIBILITY. We are asking that people call of work for this event. This is a great way to show just how many of us there are. Now here’s the IMPORTANT thing to note: there are still many states that do not have sexual identity inclusive ENDA laws. In other words, in many states, an employer can still fire an employee for being Gay. Consider your situation both economically and personally before calling off work. There are MANY WAYS to show visibility on December 10th. If you cannot call off work, we ask that you show up to work wearing a White Knot, but don’t forget to PACK YOUR LUNCH and refrain from that tempting coffee run.
So Join us in making an impact in many ways on December 10th. Let’s show the nation just how expansive our impact can be – how we give to the economy, and how we can all come together and give to our local communities. View the PRESS RELEASE here.
To quote Prop 8 the Musical “There’s Money to be Made.” How are we going to pay for the economic bailout? Why not allow the LGBTQ community to join in Civil Marriage? Could you imagine how much we would spend on weddings?! Well let’s find out how much won’t be spent on December 10th.
18 Responses
So, really, if we’re all volunteering and getting out in communities and being visible, a more accurate title would be “A Day With Extra Gays.”
Posted on December 5th, 2008 at 1:50 am
I love this concept of economic withdrawal…
ECONOMIC WITHDRAWAL was one of the most powerful tools utilized during the civil rights movement that literally forced our nation to the enact and enforce laws designed to substantively protect the promise of basic human rights articulated in our nation’s constitution.
POTENTIAL OF ECONOMIC WITHDRAWAL
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. discussed the power of this tool in his Mountain Top speech. He said, “Always anchor our external direct action with the POWER OF ECONOMIC WITHDRAWAL. Now, we are poor people. Individually, we are poor when you compare us with white society in America….[But] collectively we are richer than all the nations in the world with the exception of nine…We [1968 African American community] have an annual income of more than thirty billion dollars a year, which is more than all of the exports of the United States, and more than the national budget of Canada…THAT’S POWER RIGHT THERE, IF WE KNOW HOW TO POOL IT.”
Unlike the African American community of 1968, the gay community is disproportionately wealthy. We pour a disproportionate amount of resources into an economy that has undoubtedly become even more dependent upon our generous contributions yet we lack the basic civil rights to which every other American is entitled. During this time of our nation’s economic distress, just a taste of our economic withdrawal could have a tremendous impact on an already flailing economy, forcing dismissive politicians and bigoted business leaders to take our cry for basic civil rights seriously.
EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF ECONOMIC WITHDRAWAL
Rosa Parks, the mother of the civil rights movement, who refused to relinquish her seat on a bus to a white man, was the pioneer who led the first successful campaign of civil disobedience anchored by the principle economic withdrawal in this country. The economic withdrawal resulting from Ms. Parks’ “disobedience” literally brought Montgomery Alabama to its economic knees when the African American community stopped using public transportation until the city, solely on the basis of economic distress, relinquished its demeaning “back of the bus” treatment of African Americans.
Posted on December 5th, 2008 at 4:22 am
Count on my family of 7!!!! And all of my contacts 50!!!
Posted on December 5th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
[...] JoinTheImpact.com: We’re getting a great deal of discussion on The Impact about the Day Without a Gay. A lot of [...]
Posted on December 5th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Falling in love is a right that can never be taken away, especially by a law.
It’s not what you are, but who you are. That’s all that matters in the end.
hi im 12 yrs old,and i think gays should have just as much rights as straight
people,and for anti-gay people,get a clue!its AMERICA!! people can be
whatever they wanna be!havent u heard the saying “its a free country!”
Posted on December 7th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
[...] the Day Without a Gay, we are not only encouraging an economic boycott, but also a day of volunteerism and visibility, to show this country what an impact the GLBT community can have. For more information, visit [...]
Posted on December 8th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I may not be personally gay, but one of my sisters is, and perhaps my future children. You can count on my support for household economic withdrawal, despite my going to work on Tuesday. Proposition 8 was a completely unfair and unjust decision, and I’d like to think that in the future, all of my friends and family would be allotted equal rights under the law even here in KY. It has to start somewhere (:
Posted on December 8th, 2008 at 10:24 am
I am no longer working actively (on disability with MS), however I am a gay man (47 y/o) and definitely support this event to show all of the biggots just how powerful the GL community is and how much we matter to this country
Posted on December 8th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
This does not have the effect that people think it will, and was tried with failed results with gas pricing days without gas. Those highest up in the economy will not be effected by this because the LGGTQ community and et. al will just consume more before and after December 10th. All it really effects are those lowest on the chain that can be shaken up by a single day of disasterous sales. Basically, it’ll be taken out on smaller businesses and the hourly worker. Those up at the top will get their money, a day early or a day late. For this sort of boycott to take effect and have meaning, it will need to be done for an extended period of time. All this sort of thing does is shows them that we’re incapable of doing without them and at best can muster a feeble slap at their ankles.
Posted on December 9th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I think this is fabulous! Tho i have just heard about it… a day before hand… i plan to participate and encourage my friends and family to do the same. I know a large amount of people to spread the word… as of now i have twenty people “saying” they will participate already… keep the chan going everyone! ^_^
Posted on December 9th, 2008 at 11:08 am
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Posted on December 9th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I think this is a great idea and my partner and I will be supporting this. I do have a concern though that I saw MSNBC is reporting that it takes place today Dec 9th instead of Dec 10th which is Human Rights Day.
Posted on December 9th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I think the gay day off from work is a miss. If someone who takes a gay day off from work gets fired because of this, I don’t see how it helps in any way. I think the economic impact of withdrawing money from our bank accounts for one day would be hugely visible and impactful , although in this economic climate, do we really need to be the agents of even more disruption?
My two cents: I think there should be a nationwide March on Washington or a Hands Across America type of event, and it should occour in the first 100 days of the new administration.
Posted on December 9th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I am 100% gay, but I think this is a ludicris, obsurd idea. It’s only going to make people upset and angry, and is only going to give gays a bad name. I don’t think this will help the cause at all and only hurt it. There are millions of people losing there jobs right now and to boycott and ask people to “call in gay” is just rediculous. Whose boss, in their right mind would let them call out for this. Frankly, I am a small business owner, and along with other businesses in the Castro of SF, I plan to keep my doors open, because I need the money. Sorry, I just think this is a bad idea.
Posted on December 9th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Just wanted to let you know I posted your link as a source on my article for this event tomorrow. I wanted to spread the world to my AC readers. Here is the link-
CALL in GAY DAY- DECEMBER 10th Support Against Prop 8Gay rights activists have organized a call in gay day aka a day without a gay in the workplace as a “nationwide strike and economic boycott”.View more »
Posted on December 9th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
As part of my community involvement today, I felt it important to donate to an organization whose leaders , such as Julian Bond and Rev. Amos Brown, have been vocally supportive against prop 8 and who filed a suit against prop 8. I have sent a donation on behalf of the LGBT community to the NAACP National Headquarters, Development Dept, 4805 Mount Hope Dr. Baltimore, MD 21215. I included a note as to why I was making the donation. I encourage others to donate to organizations, outside of the Queer community, to show our support for all civil rights
Posted on December 10th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Wow umm I know someone else mentioned this but didn’t anyone think that this has no chance of working. As previously mentioned people will just consume more the day before and after and indeed it will only hurt those at the bottom and marginally at that. Besides in the economic crisis America is facing right now is this the most responsible way to ‘protest’. This to me is kind of like a tantrum a five year old might through, not really wise but very selfish. Also the passing of prop 8 was not the cause of only religious people if it were only the religious that were voting for it then it would have failed. Does the phrase “When in Rome” mean anything. Obviously and for many varying reasons people find same sex marriages offensive and they have voted in a way that shows that. A different way of looking at this is a group of people are wanting to have a business lunch the loudest person automatically says “Lets go to Chuck E. Cheeses.” Now the CEO is a laid back guy and right away okays it. Later the rest of the board room uncomfortable with C.E.C vote for something they are more comfortable with something to them is more conductive of business. Now the move to reverse prop 8 is the loudest person trying to force his will upon the those who are not ready for it. I feel the move is selfish and shows no love or respect for those who voted for prop 8. Now some might say well they aren’t loving or respecting me well life isn’t fair as a minority learn to live with accepted norms work gradually to change those norms and eventually you can get what you want. I am sorry but people must learn they can’t get everything they want when ever they want it. The idea of volunteering is good it would show the community (don’t call yourselves a separate community it sounds like your trying to separate and almost arrogant) that you are helpful, not selfish, gracefully accepting of defeat, not arrogant, and it would say I care about more than just sex I am not someone completely controlled by my reproductive organs (that I don’t intend to use to their full purpose, just a joke calm down). Anyway yeah enough with the temper tantrum hey if you get it overturned congrats but congrats on forcing a minority view on a majority I hope you don’t think that if that happens those who originally voted for prop 8 won’t just re overturn it and then your back here. Just wait until the community at large is ready then try you lost for now forcing the issue now will only breed hate and resentment. Umm yeah that’s all.
Posted on December 11th, 2008 at 2:14 am
XPBLWa Thanks for good post
Posted on December 29th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
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