Lavender Flu Strikes: 'I Can’t Come Into Work Today, I Feel Really Gay …'

National Day Without A Gay has been called for December 10, International Human Rights Day, and organizers are encouraging people to "call in gay" and spend the day being of service as volunteers in the community:

Day Without A Gay seeks to shift our strong feelings about injustice toward service! Let's fight for equality by out-loving those who would deny us rights. Call in "gay" on December 10th (International Human Rights Day) and volunteer for your local LGBT and/or human rights organizations.

This site allows the LGBT community and our allies to be active in the search for service by posting and searching volunteer opportunities. We will not sit at home on December 10, 2008. We will offer love and support to those who need it most, the way only the gay community can!...

If you live in one of the 30 states where individuals can still be fired simply for being gay or lesbian, (yes, unbelievably, there are still 30), there are plenty of ways that you can lend a hand and a voice in our fight for gay equality--without missing work.

In Southern California, gay-out participants are readying themselves to help fire victims along with helping out other service groups, and Day Without A Gay has a a state-by-state listing of volunteer opportunities.