When posting to the various gay marriage threads, both nationally and in Massachusetts, there has been a lot of discussion on what the average gay or lesbian person can do to really effect change in this debate. I really think direct action, like the sit-ins and pickets of the civil rights era, is the most effective, if only because it generates the most attention, but the gay community does not have a ready source of individuals willing to take the time to engage in such action, nor the leaders to organize it - at least currently.

So a couple of thoughts came to mind last night, and I'd thought I'd run them by my Outsports friends.

1. I received a catalog from a garden store - as a new home owner, I am planning on redoing my small lawn, so the timing was perfect. I wouldn't have thought of using a mail-order garden center, and probably would have just thrown the catalog away, until I noticed the company is based in Ohio, which just passsed a Super-DOMA.

So my first act of protest is to write an email to this company asking to be taken off their mailing list. I will explain that I cannot do business, as a gay man, with a company headquartered in a state that clearly does not want me or my money. I will also explain I do not blame the company for where they are located - this is a protest against the state - and that they are authorized to begin mailing to me again when and if the state changes their law or the company moves.

But that got me thinking even more about the ability of the gay community to protest using our economic clout, which brings me to idea #2:

2. A few years ago, at the Universiy of Michigan, I believe, when there was a dispute between the town and the university, the students decided to demonstrate their economic power by pasting a statement on every check they used at a local merchant, that said something like "this check is from a University student." The protest worked quite effectively and the merchants in the town quickly supported the University's position in the dispute.

Why couldn't something similar work for gay people? Most of us do not regularly use checks anymore, and most of our checks are likely going to huge processing centers and are never looked at by people, but we could do something similar with cash.

If every gay person put, on just a few bills a week, a message like "this money earned by a proud gay citizen" and then circulated the money (I believe it is legal to write such messages on legal tender, as long as you don't attempt to change the value of the tender). As the money circulated it would serve three purposes:

1) It would show the extent of the gay community - as the bills move through people who never considered that their neighbors could be gay would have a wake-up call.

2) It would demonstrate the economic power of the gay community and

3) It would force everyone out there to confront their own homophobia by having to use money that might lead people to think they are gay.

This seemed like a really good idea last night, and I would love to get all of your opinions on it.

Something like this was done a few years ago, when rubber stamps were issued reading "queer dollar," or something similar, which we were supposed to stamp onto all our bills. It had a brief heydey, but petered out because not that many people got the stamps. Even in SF I never could find one.

How about this updated, user-friendly version: get yourself a medium-tip purple marker and write the letters QB - for "Queer Buck" - in the blank area of the face side of any bills that come into your possession. Let's see how many we can get into circulation to show that we are indeed everywhere! Et in mercatus ego.

[ February 12, 2004, 09:34 AM: Message edited by: gmginsfo ]

Okay, I know I'm supposed to be ignoring you...but that is a great idea. Make sure it is in permanent ink, too!

I'm all for social protest, but don'tcha think this just invites folks to write...er, less than kind...responses on the dollars? It could get ugly and I'd hate to receive some change at the local deli telling me what ring of hell I was destined for and the particulars of what may or may not get me there.

How 'bout we write our Congressmen?

Well, gaga4gaby, those of us in DC don't have Congressmen (or women for that matter) to write.

But seriously, I see your point, but believe we have to do something more than simply writing letters (which can of course be dismissed by the recipient as non-important), and having some visual means of demonstrating our existence and integration into society. In so many of these debates we are treated like an alien race that only appears when there is a vocal fight - we need to demonstrate that we are everywhere.

We could use a highlighter and color the pyramid on the back of the dollar bill pink.

Ooh, I like that idea, Bobby. I just did that to all the dollar bills I have in my possession. You can even see the pink when you hold the bill up to the light.

This was around in the early 90's during the Queer Nation days. It started in Chicago, I think. Obviously, there's no substitute for writing your reps--if the area you live in has one, that is!--and taking to the streets when necessary, but it's a pretty cool little thing to do. Now if I only had some money to do it with.....

Marking currency is a violation of federal law.

I have heard that years ago, to counter the "no dogs or sailors allowed" attitude of Norfolk VA, the Navy Exchange handed out change in the form of two dollar bills. When merchants in town got payment in the form of two dollar bills, they knew just who was buttering their bread, so to speak.

I happen to like two dollar bills, as they prove deal makers at yard sales. They are not rare. They cost exactly $2 each at your local bank. They bear the likeness of Thomas Jefferson on the front, he who told King George III to stuff it, at least when he wasn't otherwise occupied managing his slaves. On the back of the 1976 version is the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. The 1953 version has Monticello on the back, and you won't want to let one of those get away from you.

I always have an extra two dollar bill or two in my wallet, in case the Queen of England should come driving by. I could wave it at her in a taunting fashion.

By paying with two dollar bills, we could illustrate that our contribution to the economy was "as queer as a two dollar bill."

[ February 12, 2004, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: twin58 ]

My Grandmother has given out two dollar bills every year in Easter eggs. Does that mean.... eek! nah... with 10 kids it can't.

But I like that idea! Maybe we'll start having to use the Sacagawea Dollars (aka the American Loonie) as well!

Not exactly, according to the Bureau of Ingraving and Printing (emphasis added):

So, as long as the bills remain usable, mark away.

But I still have to leave the mattress tags on, right?

Don't think having 10 kids means anything.

One of the first guys I went to bed with, when I ws 17, was married, with 4 or 5 kids.

That was back in the days when hitchhiking was safe, and fun!!

But I like the 2 dollar bill idea. Do most stores accept them?

They better, it's US currency.... Plus I'd be willing to throw a drama queen hissy fit at anyone who refused to accept a $2 bill.