Call In Gay
Tomorrow’s the big day. Should be interesting. Somehow I don’t think it will advance the cause of gay marriage much, though. Just annoy people. Sounds a little too much like a “Where’s the beef?” or “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” kind of cultural one-liner in the making than a successful social protest strategy. Has Jay Leno done this one yet?
“Hi, boss. Yeah, I’m feeling kind of gay today … “
(Laughter. Smarmy Leno grin.)
Hey, that’s not funny! Gay marriage advocates who aren’t crazy about the idea suggest it asks people to out themselves at work. How about, it asks them to put themselves up for disciplinary action for failure to show up. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure free speech doesn’t extend to the right to stiff the boss for political purposes. Woe betide the employer who tries to act on that, but they’ve come up with an alternative. Withdraw $80 from your bank account. $80 as in Prop. 8, I guess. That’s a pretty good one, if in fact there is any public way of measuring how many people withdraw $80 and not spend it, or spend it at gay-friendly venues. Even in tough economic times, there must be multitudes of people nationwide who, for Christmas shopping, or betting at the track, or whatever, will bang in and/or take $80 out of the ATM tomorrow. They should have made it $20 … as in any two people should be able to get married. Or $100, as in One-in-10. They’d get more hits that way.
Fascinating interview a couple of weeks ago on NPR with a black lesbian Obama campaign worker from LA’s South Central, some place like that. Said the issue was being oversold, and blacks didn’t buy the civil rights equivalency argument. She noted that while she would not have been able to drink from the white water fountain in the old segregated South, white gays would have, and said blacks see it as a bit of a boutique issue that doesn’t rise to the level of importance of racial issues, poverty issues, etc. Hence along with other cultural factors, the failure of Prop. 8 amid the big Obama wave.
Somehow I don’t think, in the middle of a recession, that banging in will impress America in general much, let alone bosses and co-workers who have to pick up the slack. But what do I know? I thought “Hope and Change” was a big joke … hey, wait a minute, turns out I was right about that one, looking at who’s changing and who’s losing hope these days.
Not really my issue, anyway. In my state, four judges determined that the state constitution was pro-gay marriage, and the Legislature opted to blow off a voter ballot on the issue. Whether I go to work tomorrow is irrelevant. Except to my boss and co-workers.
Looking around for more commentary. Gay marriage advocate/husband Andrew Sullivan is oddly silent on the subject, but maybe that’s because he still hasn’t had his hearing checked.
Women on the Web are big fans.
Malkin hurtfully compares it to Day Without an Illegal Alien.
Say Anything doubts it will bring the economy to its knees and invites discussion on that boss/discipline question.
Topics: free speech
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:45 am on Tuesday, December 9, 2008
5 Responses to “Call In Gay”
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December 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
These people are in serious need of PR counsel.
December 9th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Call in gay, get no pay.
December 9th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Why is government in the business of deciding who can or can’t get married? Make it a private affair, unless it’s an arrangement that is sure to cause harm to one or both parties. In which case to trespassing party can be charged with a crime.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:04 am
Is “calling in gay” like “calling in sick?”
December 10th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Alan, the government decides who can get married because it’s a legal status. If you want to get married and don’t care about the legal status, you can do whatever you want. Marry another man, a chicken, have 8 wives, whatever you want - nobody can stop you as long as you don’t try to claim legal status for the marriage.