Friday October 8th: Boycott for Gay Rights

[Rick Munroe]

I think this is a great idea; it's being organized by a gay couple from Atlanta. There are three elements to the boycott: No Work, No Purchases and No Cell Phones. They are "asking all GLBT Americans and their Straight Allies to 'drop out' of the United States economy for one day to demonstrate that we are vital and important members of our communities with significant economic presence."

 

"Our goal is to show the American people that GLBT people are important members of their community. Because so many of us are in the closet, the way to show our impact is to drop out of the economy to show that we are vital contributors and citizens and deserve fair and equal treatment like all members of society.

 

"A boycott offers an opportunity for a silent protest that can be measured in dollars. It does NOT require you to 'come out.' People don't even have to know why you aren't going to work that day unless you choose to tell them. There is no risk for you. We must make our presence known in this country. Many people don't even think they know a gay person. Our job is to make that clear on Friday, October 8th, 2004."

 

http://www.boycottforequality.com/

[Guest zipperzone]

>I think this is a great idea; it's being organized by a gay

>couple from Atlanta. There are three elements to the boycott:

>No Work, No Purchases and No Cell Phones.

 

Interesting idea but I question how effective it will be. How can the $$$s lost be calculated? And........... queens staying off their cell phones? Come on - get real.

[OneFinger]

Rick,

 

Can I assume my appointment with you and Derek is canceled?

[guyinsf]

I don't think it's a good idea for the following reasons:

 

1. It would be difficult to get an accurate accounting of what impact, if any, a 1-day boycott had.

 

2. It penalizes gay and gay-friendly businesses and employees, particularly those operating/living marginally, causing them to lose a day's receipts or pay.

 

3. One could argue that even if you could convince the majority of gay and gay-friendly people in the U.S. to cooperate, there would be minor fiscal impact because people would just make their purchases a day early or a day late. A boycott needs to last more than a day to have any real impact.

[+ deej]

> Queens staying off their cell phones? Come on - get real.

 

ROFL!

 

Or even more unlikely, giving up their internet connections. I know people who would have serious trouble staying out of chat rooms looking for a hookup.

 

Guyinsf mentions penalizing gay/gay friendly business on a shoestring and then negates himself with "people would just make their purchases a day early or a day late", which is exactly right. We'd buy our Krispy Kremes a day early and put off the trip to Target to the next day. The money would still be spent.

 

The idea is to cause a noticeable dip -- not a long-term effect.

[+ Charlie]

It sounds like a silly idea to me. If no one can measure the impact, no one will pay attention to it.

[Rick Munroe]

>It sounds like a silly idea to me. If no one can measure the

>impact, no one will pay attention to it.

 

But it can be measured. And they're advertising it and trying to get as much media coverage as possible (that's why their asking for donations).

 

From their site:

"We can only have an impact if we get the word out and participate. Imagine the discussions that will occur if there is a significant amount of press leading up to those two days. Imagine if Broadway shut down for the day. Imagine if brides could not find florists for their weddings for those days. Imagine if people could not get appointments to get their hair cut that day. Imagine law enforcement officers not on their normal patrols. Imagine the conversations in classrooms at schools across America if teachers and principals didn't show up to work that Friday. Imagine the discussions in Board Rooms and at the water coolers in corporations all over the country if major players don't show up. Imagine the power that gays and lesbians who, for personal reasons, have chosen to stay in the closet will feel by quietly participating in this boycott."

 

And here's one of their press releases:

 

Gays and Lesbians to Withhold $1.4 Billion From US Economy During October 8 Economic Boycott

 

Atlanta, GA, August 28, 2004 – The U.S. lesbian and gay population spends an average of $1.4 billion each day, totaling $500 billion a year, and Boycott For Equality is organizing a one-day nation-wide economic 'walkout' on October 8, 2004 to make that point clear.

 

The one-day event is designed to highlight the contribution that lesbians and gays make to the domestic economy and tax base, at the same time they are denied the full legal protections and civil liberties afforded heterosexual Americans.

 

"We want to remind those in our nation who don’t always see the impact of our community in terms of dollars and cents that we do have real market power,” said Boycott for Equality Co-Founder Dale Duncan. "We were inspired by Don't Amend Founder Robin Tyler's famous quip, 'If being gay is a disease, let's all call in sick to work' and decided to put those words into action.”

 

Up to twenty-seven million Americans identify as being primarily lesbian or gay, yet no Federal law provides protection from discrimination in the workplace and many State and Federal laws prohibit access to the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

 

According to the Washington D.C.-based public relations firm Witeck-Combs Communications, the US Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) population contributed an estimated $500 billion to the U.S. marketplace in 2003, while The University of Georgia’s Selig Center at the Terry College of Business estimates that the African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native-American markets contributes $688 billion, $653 billion, $344 billion, and $45 billion respectively.

 

“This event brings into focus the economic contribution of GLBT citizens,” said Duncan. “And people understand money. The response so far has been tremendous.”

 

Some major groups that have endorsed or encouraged Boycott for Equality Day include the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Don't Amend: The Equality Campaign, The Advocate magazine, Civil Marriage US, DC Diversity, Equality Illinois and Wyoming Equality.

 

Additionally, comic Margaret Cho's web site, loveisloveislove.com, has listed Boycott For Equality Day as one of the "12 Things You Can Do" to promote gay and lesbian equality.

 

October 8 falls on a Friday, and the following Monday is National Coming Out Day, Duncan explained. “It seemed like a great time to make our presence felt.”

 

Boycott For Equality is an Atlanta-based non-profit formed to promote the boycott, scheduled this year for October 8. For that day, GLBT Americans and their straight allies are encouraged to withdraw from the economy in three specific areas:

 

1) Do not purchase anything. Do not generate sales tax or business revenue.

 

2) Don’t work. Take the day off - do not generate payroll taxes, income taxes or add to the economy.

 

3) Do not use cell phones. Dropping out of the communication network is a way to measure the impact of your presence.

 

For more information, visit http://www.boycottforequality.org

[Rick Munroe]

>queens staying

>off their cell phones? Come on - get real.

 

I think that if we spread the word and try to make everyone see the possibilities in a boycott, even "queens" would give it a try. Or maybe I'm just not as jaded as the rest of you.

[Guest zipperzone]

>Or maybe I'm just not as jaded as the rest of you.

>

 

Rick - I don't think we're jaded - just realists.

[HooBoy]

What is Target? A gay shooting gallery?

[guyinsf]

Unless employers are willing to pay people two days' wages for one day of work (because they are extra busy that day because no one went shopping the day before), then I don't see how my one comment negates the other. The reality is that a lot of people, if this were to happen, would simply lose a day's salary. And some businesses, obviously, aren't of the type where one day's business can simply be shifted to another (restaurants, for example).

[guyinsf]

Are they suggesting that people specifically ask their employers to NOT pay them? I thought the idea was to call in sick. For those who have sick pay, calling in sick does not result in any of these economic consequences listed. Instead of paying you for work your employer pays you to be home ill, and your sick pay is still subject to payroll and income taxes and you still have the same money to spend later, adding to the economy.

 

>

>2) Don’t work. Take the day off - do not generate payroll

>taxes, income taxes or add to the economy.

>

>

>

[Rick Munroe]

>Are they suggesting that people specifically ask their

>employers to NOT pay them? I thought the idea was to call in

>sick. For those who have sick pay, calling in sick does not

>result in any of these economic consequences listed.

 

OK, yeah, you guys are right. This is sounding more and more dumb (I mean, dumb and dumber). Maybe instead of a boycott, we should plan a huge televised orgy with one great simultaneous orgasm; that would have a greater impact, no? }(

[Rick Munroe]

>Rick - I don't think we're jaded - just realists.

 

I was just teasing! :+

[Rick Munroe]

>Can I assume my appointment with you and Derek is canceled?

 

No, I've contacted the organizers of the boycott and they have given me permission to carry on my usual shenanigans that day. We're cool. ;-)

[guyinsf]

Now that sounds like a protest we could all enjoy. :9

[+ bigjoey]

would the dancers at the gaiety have no audience? if denise let in everyone for free (LOL) could we tip? if there were no customers for privates, would the dancers get desperate and lower their prices (dutch auction style) until there were takers?

[+ deej]

>Now that sounds like a protest we could all enjoy. :9

 

That's no protest. It's a FUND RAISER! :*