Some same-sex marriage supporters are urging people to 'call in gay' Wednesday to show how much the

Описание: (9 Dec 2008) HEADLINE: Calling in 'gay' to work latest form of protest
CAPTION: Some same-sex marriage supporters are urging people to 'call in gay' Wednesday to show how much the country relies on gays and lesbians, but others question whether it's wise to encourage skipping work given the nation's economic distress. (Dec. 9)
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
(locator - San Francisco, CA)
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY COULD SOON COME DOWN WITH A CASE OF SO-CALLED "LAVENDER FLU." FLYERS POSTED ON STREETS AND ONLINE URGE PEOPLE TO "CALL IN GAY" WEDNESDAY TO SHOW HOW MUCH THE NATION RELIES ON GAYS AND LESBIANS.
David Bowers, Skipping Work Tomorrow, says: "I love it. It is fabulous to me."
Bruce Ivie, Skipping Work Tomorrow, says: "I agree with it too. I've always said strength in numbers and as gay people in 2008, nearly 2009, we all need to come out of the closet and make our voices heard."
BUT MOST OF THE BUSINESSES IN SAN FRANCISCO'S GAY-FRIENDLY CASTRO DISTRICT PLAN TO STAY OPEN.
Bonnie Dundee, Coffee Shop Manager, says: "Here in the Castro if all the gays didn't go to work the whole neighborhood would shut down. For a place like us, we caffeinate all the fabulous people in this neighborhood so I think it would be a little bit tragic if we shut down for the day."
THE COFFEE SHOP WILL SELL GIFT BASKETS WITH PROCEEDS GOING TOWARDS EFFORTS TO LEGALIZE SAME SEX MARRIAGE. DURING THE PEAK OF THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON IN THIS TROUBLED ECONOMY, SOME GAY-OWNED BUSINESSES ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER THIS IS THE RIGHT PROTEST AT THE RIGHT TIME.
Kenny Cyrus, Gift Shop Manager, says: "I just think in places like Nebraska staying home gay for a day will make much more of a statement than it will in the middle of the gay mecca here in San Francisco."
ORGANIZERS OF A "DAY WITHOUT A GAY," MODELED AFTER SIMILAR WORK STOPPAGES BY LATINO IMMIGRANTS, ARE ALSO ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PERFORM VOLUNTEER WORK AND REFRAIN FROM SPENDING MONEY.
Bruce Ivie, Skipping Work Tomorrow, says: "We're not doing anything tomorrow. Not even going to answer the phone, unless we know it's a gay person calling! (laughs)"
HAVEN DALEY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, SAN FRANCISCO.

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