'Call in Gay' Wednesday, LA Activists Say

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 United States' economic distress. Organizers of "Day Without a Gay" also are encouraging people to perform volunteer work and refrain from spending money, the AP reports.

Sean Hetherington, a West Hollywood comedian and personal trainer, dreamed up the idea with his boyfriend, Aaron Hartzler, after reading online that activists were calling for a daylong strike to protest the passage of Proposition 8. Hetherington said he's been getting 100 e-mails an hour from people looking for volunteer opportunities, and that his "Day Without a Gay" Web site has gotten 100,000 hits since mid-November. (More gay rights stories.)