10/8: Gay Marriage Group Calls National Boycott

Gay Marriage Group Calls National Boycott
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: August 25, 2004 8:32 pm ET

(New York City) An advocacy group for same-sex marriage is calling on gays and lesbians to stage a one-day boycott show the clout of the pink buck.

Estimates indicate that America's lesbian and gay population spends an average of $1.4 billion each day, totaling $500 billion a year.

Boycott For Equality is calling for a one-day nation-wide economic 'walkout' on October 8, 2004 to make that point clear.

Atlanta-based Boycott for Equality Co-Founder Dale Duncan says the one-day event would 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 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."

Using conventional statistics 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 contribute $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.

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."

Duncan says that on October 8 GLBT Americans and their straight allies should not purchase anything, not generate sales tax or business revenue, not work (by taking the day off and not generate payroll taxes, income taxes or add to the economy) and not use cell phones.

Dropping out of the communication network is a way to measure the impact of your presence, Duncan says.

©365Gay.com 2004