10 December 2008

Day Without A Gay

Day Without A Gay logo

Day Without A Gay is intended as a boycott and strike by all LBGTQ people and their supporters, to demonstrate our economic might. It coincides with International Human Rights Day.

Here's a condensed list of their suggestions on what to do on the day:

1. Don't go to work.
    That part is easy enough. Wednesdays are my midday weekend, when I don't go to work anyway. I'll have to stop in to sign my timesheet so I can get paid this month, since they're trying to close the books early for Christmas break. But I won't be working.

2. Don't spend any money, except at businesses that are clearly LBGTQ-friendly.
    Also easy enough. I planned ahead on groceries and gas.

3. Withdraw $80 from the bank and keep it pocketed all day.
    So, after I go in to sign the timesheet, I'll be visiting the bank.

4. Avoid advertising, such as from watching TV or browsing the Internet.
    That latter is going to be hard. o.O

5. Volunteer and/or join a nearby protest.
    I keep checking for opportunities on the official website, but there aren't any for Savannah. :( Of the local regular opportunities, all of them want me to commit lengthy periods of time that I don't have, and none want me to do something on the actual day. Likewise, we kind of sucked at the protesting back on Nov. 15, so unless I want to drive to Jacksonville, it looks like I'm out of luck there, too.

    What I will be doing to make myself visible is outing myself on Facebook, which I finally caved and signed up for a month ago. Dozens of people from 5-20 years ago have since found me there. So yes, this will be a scary prospect in front of ~73 family, friends, longlost acquaintances recently found again, etc. But what better time than now? It'll consist of a status message that clearly states why I'm offline for the day, with question-answering the following day when I'm back online.

6. Don't use cell phones.
    I'm not sure I understand this one. But I can turn it off for the day. Nobody calls me anyway except wrong numbers and phone companies wanting me to sign up.

Additionally, there's a suggestion from WhiteKnot.org:
7. Wear a ribbon with a white knot in the middle, as a symbol of support for marriage equality.
    I'll have one. And I'll be wearing it when I sign my timesheet. We'll see if anyone asks what it is...

Right then. I'll be back on the 11th. :)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yay! That's brave!

I wish it was a "Heteros for marriage equality"-day. And that it would take place in January when I'm back at work (For more effect).

MWT said...

Thanks for caring! :)

People in support of the event were also allowed to participate. I'm not sure what's happening in January. Next on their schedule is a candlelight vigil sit-in on the 20th (and since as previously mentioned, Savannah is still sucking at getting warm bodies together for anything, that's unlikely to happen here).

Megadeus said...

Facebook, you say? Are you there under your real name or an assumed nick? (I'd like to add you as a friend.)

Also, congratulations on coming out. I know that must have been very difficult for you. I'm not sure if "congratulations" is the correct thing to say as I have very few GLBTQ friends (read as: "2") and I'm not sure if that's the correct etiquette, but I know that it must have taken some real courage and I admire that very much.

Talk to you soon!