An expected wave of employees will be calling in to work Wednesday morning informing employers that they will be unavailable to make it in. No, a nationwide virus has not infected hundreds of thousands of workers. Rather, they’ll be calling in on the basis of being in support of gay marriage.

The protest called “Day Without a Gay” is a statement against California’s ban on same-sex marriage. According to the group’s Web site, gays are encouraged to call into work not claiming sickness, but rather, claiming “gay.”

“I woke up (Tuesday) morning and already had 300 e-mails from people wanting to get involved and volunteer,” said Sean Hetherington, a West Hollywood, Calif., resident who is coordinating the event. “It’s already been successful based on the coverage we’ve been getting. I think you’re going to see hundreds of thousands of people on an international level rise up and show their support.”

Hetherington said the phrase “Day Without a Gay” was not meant to be taken literally in terms of not attending work. Instead, it refers to a movement of people “coming out whether that means writing a letter to your senator or informing friends and family about gay marriage.”

The group’s Web site also encouraged straight allies to call in “gay.”

Hetherington said the creation of the Web site was based on a social experiment has received more than 100,000 hits.

In Chicago, the Gay Liberation Network is holding an 11 a.m. rally outside the County Building, 118 N. Clark St. Their message is a call for granting same-sex marriage licenses.

“We’ve reached a new level with the recent protests and activism,” said Leslie Morrow, director of the LGBT resource center on campus. “I know a lot of people are very apathetic with the recent passage of four key anti-gay legislation, so it’s great to see the troops rallying.”

An absence at work may highlight the gay community’s financial power. In June, Witeck-Combs Communications estimated that the country’s LGBT adult population consumption influence was around $712 billion this year alone.

“I understand the ultimate aim of the protest, but in this economy, I think it’s a very personal decision,” Morrow said. “Calling off one day of work can certainly have consequences, but it’s still a great movement.”