Hello Boss? I’m Calling Out Gay Today
Skip calling in sick. Shun the mental health day. Take a stand in a new way and on December 10, 2008 show your solidarity and take a stand for love, not hate by participating in Day Without a Gay.
The plan is to take a stand against the hate and misconceptions people still have about gays and lesbians. What better way to show the world how we truly love than to join forces on December 10, 2008, International Human Rights Day, and dedicate the day to service.
The mission of the organization according to their website is:
Day Without A Gay seeks to shift our strong feelings about injustice toward service! Let’s fight for equality by out-loving those who would deny us rights. Call in “gay” on December 10th (International Human Rights Day) and volunteer for your local LGBT and/or human rights organizations.
You can search for volunteer opportunities or list your organization as one in need of service at their website http://daywithoutagay.org/.
I personally thought — wouldn’t it be an amazing show of visibility if every employee were to call in gay for a day? Now that is a critical mass moment. Yet we all know and the organization recognizes that not everyone might feel comfortable or even safe calling in gay. After all there are still 30 states in which someone can be fired simply for being gay or lesbian. They have a whole page dedicated to “But I Can’t Miss Work or I’ll Be Fired!” which offers up ways you can still have your voice heard and further the cause without putting your daily bread in jeopardy.
Whether you can participate on December 10, 2008 or not, check out their website and spread the word. And, find ways that you personally can be of service. Regardless of the organization or individual you volunteer to help on this day or any day — be authentic, give back, live your truth, and be the change you wish to see in the world. This is the way to create a life worth living and foster a loving community (and world).
Paula Gregorowicz, owner of The Paula G. Company, offers life coaching for women who are ready to create their lives and businesses in a way that fits who they are rather than how they were told they “should”. Visit her website at www.thepaulagcompany.com and get the free 12 part eCourse “How to Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin” and start taking charge of your own success.
Paula: What a great concept and way to “fight” for our cause. Thanks for pointing this out to Queercents readers!
This is such a great idea. The visibility would be amazing. I work at a college so you can just imagine how many gay people work here and how the college would basically fall apart for a day if we called in gay. Yahoo!
If we’re bi, do we only get to call out half the day? 😀
I guess I’m the only one who thinks this is a bad idea. In middle/upper management for my company, I can’t say that people really see gay or straight. Someone not showing up isn’t a great statement for gays- it’s a statement of someone not pulling his or her weight with a tanking economy.
any resources for those of us who cant speak out at work?
JT — if you hit their website, they have some suggestions for folks who cannot come out at work.
Meredith – I can truly appreciate your perspective as a manager. And, each individual would need to determine if taking the day off (there is such a thing as personal time after all despite the fact that employers don’t want you to take time off that is due to you — that’s a whole different peeve of mine) is right for them based on their job circumstance.
That being said — I have to disagree with you that people don’t see gay or straight. Perhaps to some degree that is true & wouldn’t it be wonderful if all things were equal. Yet I can remember being in jobs where a co-worker would work just fine with me & then go bashing gay people nonstop. So is that just “fine”? Was he just a jerk? Or could a little education have helped soften his perspective?
Whether it is this approach (A Day Without a Gay) or other means… it’s time people could see and learn about the realities and inequities that exist and what hate, like those who helped the Prop 8 cause REALLY means.
Why would I hurt my employer (and co-workers) by not showing up one day when my company and many others like it offer totally equal work environments?
I get the idea and I think it’s a great concept but let’s find a way to reward those companies that already value the Gay employee.