Should You Boycott for Equality October 8th?
There is a clever, national event being planned that you might want to learn more about. An event, my colleague, Justin Nelson, over at the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, says is unlikely to be successful because of logistics AND could actually be a detriment to GLBT businesses that close down for the day to participate. He’s also concerned that a “failed boycott would send the wrong message on economic clout and community solidarity, not to mention asking LGBT business owners to close their doors only diminishes their returns.”
What do you think? Is it safer for purchasers to participate? Can you afford to be absent from work that day to participate? Would you be in danger of losing your job and if so, how does that affect your decision about whether to participate or not? If you are a GLBT-owned business or business that specifically serves the GLBT community, what is your take on this issue?
Tags: Boycott for Equality, gay business, gays and the economy, Justin Nelson, Marketplace, NGLCC, the gay market, The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
August 29th, 2004 at 9:28 am
Barb,
I want to just take a moment to thank you for letting me know about Boycott for Equality Day on October 8. I have marked this date on my calendar, and believe me, I will not purchase so much as a stick of gum on that day!
I find the current Administration’s position that views sexuality as a “sin” to be insulting and ignorant in light of scientific research. I vow to pass along the word about this great plan to rock and shock the economy on October 8.
Let’s all tell our friends to send a message to Washington, DC to get with the program, accept gay people as equals, and lose the judgment mentality in government!
Best wishes,
Cathy Garger
Columbia, MD
September 20th, 2004 at 4:28 pm
I will be participating in this boycott. I’m sorry to see others in our community so apathetic as usual. I’m so sick of hearing people complain about their rights gay or straight! Yet when asked if they voted the answer is too often NO! A clubbing friend of mine has been trying to pass word at the clubs. His reports are dismal to say the least, people still know nothing about this.
Others have such lame excuses as that they are worried how it may effect their parent/family stock portfolio because they stand to inherit SOMEDAY! Hello, its doubtful ‘one day’ will shut anybody down, especially w/ our straight non allies out there spending as usual.
I am 45 yrs old and I have been out since I was 17. Its been my displeasure to see how poorly the Homosexual people stand together on anything. Mostly I’ve watched them pull and push farther and farther away from each other year after year. I thought we wanted to have the same rights as the straights not emulate straight society! It seems in many ways we’ve certainly done that. We’ve effectively become materialistic, elitest, bigoted, disriminatory, clickish to say the least. We’ve become our own worst enemy. Its no wonder we can’t stand together as a group on even such an important issue as this. you know >>> OUR RIGHTS?
Since the defeat of amendment 2 , the level of descrimination has already risen. Clearly ‘they’ feel the empowerment already! Don’t think for a second that the comfort and freedom we feel publicly socially at this time is solid or permanent. When they start kicking in doors and yanking us out of our homes again,,,etc,etc, Maybe then people will pay attention? Its not as if descrimination or hate crimes have ever stopped, or that laws about hate crimes are being fully enforced or even acknowledged. If the bush administration and their right wing religeous buddies have their way we’ll all be living in a country where we are considered perverts and criminals. DID YOU KNOW, that while most of you weren’t paying attention, The state of Kansas tried to pass a bill stating that all homosexuals would be legally classified as known sex offenders, and required to have their names on the same list along w/ the real perverts. You know, child molesters ,rapists etc. So you would be harrassed about where you live work, walk etc. So everytime theres a sex crime in your area, a child or womyn hurt or raped, you too can be pulled in for questioning, dragged out of your home or workplace in cuffs, and taken in for line ups, and considered a suspect. Never mind the FACT that its been made very clear over the years via ‘their ‘ own records and studies that in fact most violators are straight men, regardless of the sex of the victim.
This missed passing by only 2 votes!!
FEELIN SAFE! Think we can’t back slide to the bad old days? Ever heard of back lash? (You can read about it, “Backlash” by Susan Faludi.) If I sound angry I am! The apathy in our community if it can even be called a community is sad and infuriating. Help yourselves, defend yourselves! We wouldn’t have to worry about this being a victory for the other side if we would!
It would help if organizations like the NGLCC, and others with the means and exposure would ‘stand up’ for what they ‘say’ they’re all about. I certainly can see Mr. Nelsons point that,”a failed boycott would send the wrong message on economic clout and community solidarity,. Sure it would! But if it sends a message about our solidarity its because that is exactly the problem! If we had solidarity we wouldn’t have to worry about sending the wrong message about our clout!! And if we can’t send a message about our Clout then how much do we have and who can know if we have it anyway!! The NGLCC has the bottom line $-commerce-$in mind. While thats an issue to be sure. They are in a position as are many others to inform, educate, and lead our communities. This means all of us, not just the elitest groups w/ money and / or important jobs etc.. The competing w/ the jones mentality is alive and well in our community! Does this sound like a familiar plea or argument? Like I said we are emulating straight society in all the ugliest ways. We better get it together because ‘they ‘ have all those enormous very organized, very together, very right wing religeous groups behind them. They are many and they are strong, and they believe! Its time for this community to grow up!
Unless you agree that who or how you love is an option and its ok with you if the religeous right and our government dictates what you do in your bedroom ,your home.
Unless Its ok with you for them to descriminate, fire, criminalize or allow hate crimes against your lover, your daughter, your son, your parents, your aunt, your brother, your sister, your grandparents, your friends!
AND I don’t know about you but if I’m not going to get equal rights and benefits, then I don’t think I should have to pay equal taxes!! THEN>>>>>>
Fighting for our/your right to live as equal working, loving, thinking, HUMAN BEINGS and tax paying citizens in OUR OWN country is a priority! NOT AN OPTION!
September 21st, 2004 at 8:13 pm
Monday I posted a letter here as you can see. I also wrote to Dale Duncan, Founder of the boycott for Equality. I let him know what I had read here per the comments from Justin Nelson of the NGLCC.As I found his remarks typically devisive.This is then the response I received from Dale…I think its well worth reading And cetainly helps us to understand HOW this could work! Why we all should be a part of it!
Thanks for letting me know.
I need a favor. Please copy this letter below and send it to the place
you found the critical letter. Also, send it to your friend at the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.( Every body needs to write to them!G.W.)
Thanks for the help!
Dale Duncan
I am aware that the leaders of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of
Commerce do not support our efforts to drop out of the economy on
October 8th.
I believe that their view is short-sighted, and I have already sent a
letter to the president of the NGLCC to state that. They are missing a
tremendous opportunity to make a mighty and powerful statement on October 8th. They have the chance to contribute to bringing our community together in solidarity, and unless their position changes due to
pressure from LGBT citizens, they will squander that opportunity.
This is a grass roots effort. We have never expected any of the major LGBT leaders to endorse this. While we welcome anyone into this event, we do not require NGLCC, HRC or any other group to endorse it in order to meet success. I believe that in this case, we must lead our leaders.
For those who don’t believe this effort will work:
—You fail to realize that nothing will ever change the fact that
there are about 20 million of us contributing to this economy.
—Nothing will ever change the fact that we contribute $1.4 Billion
per day.
—If the far right dared to say that we had no clout, our next question would be, then, why are you spending so much energy making laws about us.
If we are so insignficant, then you really should be spending your time
making laws that affect more people.
Let’s be pessimistic and assume that only 25% of LGBT’s participate on
10/8. Let’s say that each of those people takes a straight ally with
them. That is 10 million participants. What great opportunity we have.
Our impact will be felt..if we unify..even partially.
Business owners have always gone in the direction of the dollar sign.
They have known for quite some time about the power of the gay dollar.
Nothing is going to change that…..even if we have no participants at all. We will continue to spend and they will continue to find ways to get our money.
Since LGBT’s cannot necessarily be recognized as gay or bisexual when
we walk into a room, we are essentially invisible. We can continue to be invisible. Or, we can turn that invisibility into power.
There is no way to lose here. We win because we have taken action.
So, don’t wait for permission from your friends of the National Gay and
Lesbian Chambers of Commerce to participate.
On 10/8, do one, two, three or all four of these things:
1) Withdraw $80 from your ATM and put it in your pocket. Save the receipt and send it to the leaders of your choice after you mark out the personal information.( This answers the fear of hurting our own gay/lesbian businesses>>) On 10/9, spend it at a gay/gay-friendly business
that closed on 10/8 or just put it back into your account. Each time someone goes to that ATM on that long holiday weekend, they will encounter an empty ATM to remind them of our contribution.
2) Stay home from work.
3) Don’t use your cell phone.
4) Don’t purchase anything.
The time for cynicism has passed.
Let’s unify!!
We hope you will join us.
Dale Duncan
Boycott For Equality, Founder
October 8th, 2004 at 12:52 am
Both cars are all gassed up, there’s food in the pantry, got smokes, cash for poker with our friends and who gives a flying shit about the cell phones? Mine is never on anyway. Matter of fact, I’m not even sure where it is right now. As for the 80 bucks, we’re in such a rural area, it won’t make a difference…and regardless of the impact….this just feels so damn good.
Hell, I think we should do it one Friday a month until so many finally join in, the impact can’t help but be felt. Grassroots efforts, by the very definition, don’t start out big anyway. If it started out big, then it wouldn’t be very grassy-rootsy, would it?
January 25th, 2006 at 4:50 am
I do not see it is necessary to boycott the Equality Day.