Day Without in 1 Week
Our community contributes $700 billion a year to this economy, yet we are not given equal protections under the law that every citizen deserves. As such, it is time we make a stand. We are calling for a nationwide strike and economic boycott by all members of our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community AND OUR STRAIGHT ALLIES on December 10th, 2008, International Human Rights Day.
Call in "gay" on December 10th and instead volunteer for your local LGBT and/or human rights organizations.
Search or Post Volunteer Opportunities in Your Area NOW!
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
STRIKE: call in gay, shut down your business, or just take the day off.
BOYCOTT: don't buy anything, spend money or support the economy.
PARTICIPATE: Volunteer and/or organize a protest in your area.
TEN TIPS ABOUT WHAT TO DO ON DECEMBER 10:
-Wake up for work on Wednesday December 10th... and call in GAY.
-Go to the bank and take $80 out of your account... put it in your pocket and KEEP IT THERE.
-Do not go get your morning latte
-Do not purchase anything
-Do not contribute to advertising revenue: Meaning, spend 24 hours of your life without TV & Internet
-Do not use your cell phone, even if you have unlimited minutes.
-Instead, DO volunteer. Give to the community and reach out to those that don't understand our community. Check your state page for local volunteer opportunities.
-If you must spend, only do so at an LGBTQ owned establishment with an LGBTQ clientel.
-You have a week to prepare, so go grocery shopping now.
-Volunteering gives us something meaningful to do on our day away from work AND it provides an automatic opportunity for outreach into communities that primarily get media images of the LGBTQ community and our allies, without having to say a word. This is a simple way of putting our smiling, loving faces in places that usually don't see our community.
FIND OR ADD A VOLUNTEER LOCATION HERE
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Anyone who wants to make an impact and drive a message to our government that WE DESERVE CIVIL EQUALITY. This means the LGBTQ community and it also means our amazing allies!
WHY THE NAME "A DAY WITHOUT GAYS"?
The name was inspired by the film A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN and the nationwide strike in 2006 called A DAY WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS that protested against proposed immigration laws.
WHY STRIKE NOW DURING AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN?
While one day won't destroy the economy, it will send a clear signal that we are serious about getting our rights. Also, strikes and boycotts are more effective in an economic downturn because business owners have more to lose.
WHY A STRIKE AND A BOYCOTT?
General strikes and economic boycotts have been a powerful form of non-violent protest in the history of civil rights movements, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the anti-apartheid boycotts in the 1980s. For many of those protesters, their actions came at a great sacrifice but they were willing to risk everything to obtain their rights.
WHAT IF I CAN'T MISS WORK?
That's OK. It's important to note that many states still do not have anti-discrimination laws on the books with regards to employment discrimination against sexual orientation. If you are afraid to miss work, if your pocket book can't handle it, or if you work for a great LGBTQ advocate and friend, then go to work. All we ask is that you PACK YOUR LUNCH. It's that simple. This boycott helps to increase our visibility if we don't go to work, but you can participate in the economic boycott by simply not consuming.
Please help us get the word out and help us call all of the local volunteer organizations to ask them how we can help on December 10th.
Learn more at daywithoutagay.org
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