Fierce in Seattle: No Gays For A Day
.
A Special Edition blogumn by Kelli Bielema
Living in Seattle, everyone is prone to a political discussion, oh, just about every 5 minutes. This town loves to talk about foreign policy, local measures and state leaders. I’d rather chat about that cute J Crew outfit Michelle Obama wore on the Tonight Show. It was just darling!
On November 5th, while the country was talking about change and a new path for our nation, the conversation in the west shifted to the Proposition 8 ban in California (as well as those passed in Arizona & Florida), which outlaws gay marriage. Stupid, if you ask me. Do these people who voted to approve the ban not realize that gay marriage can actually save the U.S. economy? This may sound like hyperbole, but caterers, florists, photographers, make-up artists, musical entertainers…what percentage of those professions employ homosexuals? I’m guessing a sweet-ass chunk.
This is why I think the Los Angeles Times columnist, Joel Stein was onto something with his “No Gays for a Day” on December 10th. He suggested that gays across the nation stay home from work, much in the spirit of “A Day Without A Mexican.” And now the idea seems to be catching on. Go here for the Facebook Invite for “Day Without A Gay.”
Would something like this be effective? I don’t know. What I do know is that a few of my friends, gay and straight, marched in support of marriage and equality for all this past Saturday across the country. In Seattle, we were 6,000 strong. While this march was in response to a ban that was not even proposed in our state, it nonetheless effects our family, our friends and all people who want a basic human right.
Really. It has nothing to do with being gay or straight. It’s hard enough to find love, but I know when I do that I can marry this man should I choose to. A law telling me I can’t seems downright implausible. So this is where I join the fight in solidarity so that we all can be equal. Perhaps I will take off December 10th. But you KNOW I will go shopping. On second thought, who will be minding the store?
I love this idea, but it would be really hard to swing for people in the entertainment industry. I doubt I would be able to do it if I were still a full-time writer, as I used to have deadlines, which I was contractually required to meet. Still I hope it catches on.
I love this idea, but it would be really hard to swing for people in the entertainment industry. I doubt I would be able to do it if I were still a full-time writer, as I used to have deadlines, which I was contractually required to meet. Still I hope it catches on.
I agree with Ernessa – this would be difficult for many in the entertainment industry, like myself. Too much is happening at work for many people, and with the holidays coming it is only going to get more stressful, etc. Besides, a one day "sit-out" does not have the same effect as a boycott or even a march or rally. But then again, boycotting El Coyote, El Pollo Loco, Blockbuster, etc. adversely affects the staff who may not be connected in any way to the anti-gay movement and who may have voted against Prop. 8. :(
I guess there's no easy answer in the end – hopefully the California Supreme Court will declare Prop. 8 unconstitutional and throw it all out again, which would be delicious for all those people who mortgaged their homes in order to prevent the gayz from ruining their lives by getting married like the str8s.
I agree with Ernessa – this would be difficult for many in the entertainment industry, like myself. Too much is happening at work for many people, and with the holidays coming it is only going to get more stressful, etc. Besides, a one day "sit-out" does not have the same effect as a boycott or even a march or rally. But then again, boycotting El Coyote, El Pollo Loco, Blockbuster, etc. adversely affects the staff who may not be connected in any way to the anti-gay movement and who may have voted against Prop. 8. :(
I guess there's no easy answer in the end – hopefully the California Supreme Court will declare Prop. 8 unconstitutional and throw it all out again, which would be delicious for all those people who mortgaged their homes in order to prevent the gayz from ruining their lives by getting married like the str8s.
Speaking of which, in a delightful bit of "schadenfreude," Focus on the Family (another group that led the "no homo hitchin'" charge by donating a half million dollars to "protect marriage" from the heiny lovers) has announced that they will lay off approximately 200 of their staff. Guess they missed their revenue targets and have overextended themselves, which is funny, since some of the Christian causes they have committed to have gone ignored so far this year.
Can you imagine those poor workers being told, "Thanks for all your help keeping marriage away from the gay community, here's your one-way ticket to the unemployment line and right before the holidays, too."
I bet they'll all be crying louder than the baby Jesus in the manger.
Speaking of which, in a delightful bit of "schadenfreude," Focus on the Family (another group that led the "no homo hitchin'" charge by donating a half million dollars to "protect marriage" from the heiny lovers) has announced that they will lay off approximately 200 of their staff. Guess they missed their revenue targets and have overextended themselves, which is funny, since some of the Christian causes they have committed to have gone ignored so far this year.
Can you imagine those poor workers being told, "Thanks for all your help keeping marriage away from the gay community, here's your one-way ticket to the unemployment line and right before the holidays, too."
I bet they'll all be crying louder than the baby Jesus in the manger.
They tried to do this with gas when prices spiked. A one day sick out will not work but I do think boycotting some places will have a effect on those people.
I Think it's better to go after the specific people anyway.
They tried to do this with gas when prices spiked. A one day sick out will not work but I do think boycotting some places will have a effect on those people.
I Think it's better to go after the specific people anyway.
I think what I am most curious about is that it's a socio-political experiment. The marches all over the US this weekend were just the beginning. And actually, we may be surprised and see Hollywood support this. I think there might be a few gays in the biz. Just a guess….
People are really fired up! Change has been elected and we the people can only encourage that further. I've never been particularly politically-savvy, but someone puts down my friends, I stand up for them, at any cost. (Plus I have scads of PTO…!!!)
I think what I am most curious about is that it's a socio-political experiment. The marches all over the US this weekend were just the beginning. And actually, we may be surprised and see Hollywood support this. I think there might be a few gays in the biz. Just a guess….
People are really fired up! Change has been elected and we the people can only encourage that further. I've never been particularly politically-savvy, but someone puts down my friends, I stand up for them, at any cost. (Plus I have scads of PTO…!!!)
LOVE this blog!! and I think a surge in gay marriages WOULD help our economy!!!
LOVE this blog!! and I think a surge in gay marriages WOULD help our economy!!!