'Day without a gay' protest fizzles

[cboy4]

Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 11, 2008

Activists had billed Wednesday as "a day without a gay," when gays and lesbians across the country would call in sick, boycott shopping and show the impact of their absence from everyday life.

Designed to be a protest against the Nov. 4 passage of Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, the day's events drew only scattered support in the Bay Area, the heart of the gay rights movement, and also criticism.

Several gay and lesbian people said they couldn't afford to take the day off, particularly in a tightening economy where many are concerned about their jobs. And in the Castro district, business owners were livid that people were encouraged to not shop during the holidays, a peak time for retailers.

"Our rights have been taken away as much as anyone else's," said Rich Boutell, who runs Whatever comics on Castro Street and whose marriage was thrown into limbo with the Nov. 4 election. He and his husband, Cougar Andrews, kept their store open and wished the "day without a gay" organizers had encouraged gay-allied individuals to patronize gay-owned businesses. "The whole purpose should be to support your own, not to boycott. If you're going to have a protest, it should be a positive thing. The gay dollar is powerful."

Those who did take off work said they did it with the cooperation of employers.

They included Glenn Coffee, 48, a Noe Valley resident who works at Macy's and said the store has always been supportive of gay employees and the gay community. The main purpose, he said, of calling in sick was to show that "as a community, we can show we have worth."

The day's events prompted a mixed response, which might indicate that the gay rights movement is still finding its voice. Gay and lesbian people are included in ways never imagined decades ago, such as domestic partnership rights in states across the nation and being included by a presidential candidate in his election-night victory speech.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/10/BAUV14LPE2.DTL


Ramon Quintro, 31, is among those who march from Sproul Plaza to Berkeley City Hall during a Day Without a Gay rally. (Kurt Rogers / The Chronicle)

[cboy4]

1. I don't understand why the Castro business owners are upset.

Unless I missed the memo, I didn't read that gay people shouldn't patronize gay establishments.

I mean, what sense would that make?

It just goes to show that you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't when it comes to boycotts and demonstrations.

[LeftyMom]

12. I know the handouts at the recent march here encouraged people to support friendly businesses

that day and the night before, and even named off those that had contributed to the rally materially or were otherwise welcoming.

So that really just sounds like a failure of local organizing. God help us all if people in Sacramento have their shit together more than people in the city.

[tandot]

2. I think the economy is just too bad for people to dare to call in gay

It's pretty sad :(

[cboy4]

3. Well yes, especially if you risk being fired.

That's why we need a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

[last1standing]

4. It was just a badly formed plan.

Many didn't call off because they can't afford to lose their jobs in this economy and since there are no laws protecting us it's very easy for most employees to be replaced - probably at lower wages.

Also, if I've learned one thing in life it's that you can't just make some blanket decision and expect others to follow you. Before any other demonstration is called, organizers need to consult the GLBT community to find out what we think would be the best way of making our case. Harming an already bleeding economy isn't a tactic that would be likely to gain much support from non-GLBTs. At least not something as unfocused as this was. If an economic tactic is to be considered, why not hit a specific non-GLBT corporation or state in a way that showcases our buying power and doesn't hurt those who may actually support us?

Another tactic might be to form sit-ins at universities. There would likely be more support there and closing down a school would definitely make headlines without harming others.

[bigscott]

5. heck, if I tried to call in "gay"

my boss would say "NO SHIT, now get to work!"

Peace

S

[cboy4]

6. Yesterday fell on my regular day off, so I didn't call.

One of my friends told me I should call in anyway.

And I was like, oh please.

They would have said, umm, yea we know you're gay. Now enjoy the rest of your weekend.

[yardwork]

21. Same here.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Headline doesn't match the text. . It didn't "fizzle".

>>>>The day's events prompted a mixed response, which might indicate that the gay rights movement is still finding its voice.>>>>

A 'mixed response' means "sputtered", but not "fizzled".

I think it did as well as a first time idea could be expected to do. Hard to get off the ground with a title that uses "gay" as a noun, not as the adjective it is. " A day without a gay". Yikes. Let's iron the kinks out of that before the next try.

There were a lot of people out where I work, FWIW. More than usual, FWIW.




>>>>>>Designed to be a protest against the Nov. 4 passage of Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, the day's events drew only scattered support in the Bay Area, the heart of the gay rights movement, and also criticism.>>>>>>

NYC is and has always been the heart of the gay rights movement. We shall have no strange gods before us.


>>>"Our rights have been taken away as much as anyone else's," said Rich Boutell, who runs Whatever comics on Castro Street and whose marriage was thrown into limbo with the Nov. 4 election. He and his husband, Cougar Andrews, kept their store open and wished the "day without a gay" organizers had encouraged gay-allied individuals to patronize gay-owned businesses. "The whole purpose should be to support your own, not to boycott. If you're going to have a protest, it should be a positive thing. The gay dollar is powerful.">>>

They couldn't close for one day? People who buy comics on Castro street can't wait til Thursday? They have to have the comic book from the gay comic book store on WEDNESDAY? The pioneers crossed the Rockies in covered wagons and this is their legacy?

[Toasterlad]

8. Actually, Not That It Blunts Your Point, But the New Comics Are Delivered on Wednesdays

At least, here on the East Coast: not sure if it would be different out West.

Gotta get Radioactive Man #26, the imaginary tale where he marries Larva Girl!

[mondo joe]

14. As Toasterlad points out, Wednesday is new comics day - the biggest day of the

week for a comic book store. Comics fans will go elsewhere to get the new stuff that day. They could lose a major amount of their income by being closed that day.

[Smarmie Doofus]

17. Oh ,the humanity.

>>>>week for a comic book store. Comics fans will go elsewhere to get the new stuff that day. They could lose a major amount of their income by being closed that day.>>>

Then give people that wait til Thursday 25% off. When they see the store closed they'll realize it closed for a reason. It's win-win.


Jeeeeeezus.

[cboy4]

18. Oh the humanity is right.

Good Lord. :eyes:

[mondo joe]

19. It's not a win win when a small independently owned business with small profit

margins takes a big hit they can't afford.

You might consider being a little more trusting of GLBT people understanding their own issues.

[Toasterlad]

9. Quite Frankly, I Thought It Was an Ill-Conceived Notion

Too many gay people are closeted at work. And even if everyone followed through, it might be impressive on a societal level, but at the work force level? I know of about five gay folk in my building of about 300, including me. Even if we WANTED to punish our company with our non-presence (which I do not, as they have an excellent record on gay issues), the absence of the five of us, for one day, doesn't make much of a statement. Just who was keeping track of how many people took off gay, anyway? Only the totals would make any kind of impact.

I think the boycotting is the best way to go, especially since we can tell it's working, since everyone's pissed off.

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. There's a certain quiet poetry about *not* being present. at work....

... or wherever one normally is on a given day.

I think of it as a kind of moratorium. Time for us to take a day off to stop and reflect.

(Sort of like Yom Kippur for GLBT's , 'cept there's no implication of guilt.)

Time for the rest of the society to stop and think *about* us.

As real people.

[mondo joe]

13. I concur. And the employers who are going to be supportive of it are already

more or less on our side.

Those who aren't have gay employees who may be too afraid to come out.

[yardwork]

22. I agree about the boycotting. It must be working - they're having hysterics!

[FreeState]

11. I dont know that it fizzled...

It was in the main stream media for several days non stop. Many people talked about economics and GLBT families. Many people see that GLBT people are suffering under this economy as well.

So did the goals of the activity fizzle (calling in gay) apparently. Did the message that the organizers want fizzle - I dont think so.

[davidinalameda]

15. I had to fill my gas tank

or else I wouldn't have been able to drive to BART today

and it was the first time in MONTHS that I've been able to afford a full tank of gas

I didn't mind spending the money

[cboy4]

16. Why didn't you fill up your tank the day/night before?

Oh well, I guess your attitude proves the whole thing was a waste of time.

It's a shame gays who oppose things like calling in gay, aren't doing shiite to come up with other plans of action.

Not directing this at you, but I just get pissed when a plan fails.

In fact, I'm really fucking tired of failure.

[yardwork]

20. I don't agree with this approach, which I view as abject.

I am openly out at work - and I'm one of very few in my line of work who is out. It's a risk to my job security to be out, but I would not consider anything else. It's essential that gay people stand up for their rights. I expect to be treated with respect. I expect to be treated the same way as straight employees in my position. That's my activism on a daily basis.

If I were to "call in gay" I would be dismantling the respect and acceptance that I insist upon in my workplace by suddenly taking on a "special" status that I don't seek or desire. I don't want to be noticed because I am gay. I want to be noticed for doing a good job. I seek a country where it doesn't matter to my employers' that I am gay or not.

[mondo joe]

23. With respect to those who thought it up, it feels like a very top-down thing.

Novel idea, but not one that really took into account the needs and issues of those expected to carry it out.

Also, while possibly emotionally satisfying, any message it delivers is just vague.

The boycotts are a more effective activity.