“Do you have a moment to support gay rights?” Um…
… Only 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Most of us have experienced that small anxiety when a non-profit canvas worker approaches you with a super friendly smile, a huge wave, and a warm hello. Whether it be for Greenpeace, Planned Parenthood, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), or plenty of other organizations — you begin bracing for the pitch: “Do you have time to stand up for women’s rights?” “Can you spare a moment to fight for our climate?” These statements, although seemingly benign, can actually be quite triggering and problematic for a number of reasons.
Note: I am by no means here to write specifically about said organizations, their important works, their politics, etc. but rather, the way they often pitch their sale. Further, not all canvasing works in the same way, with the same strategies or outcomes — this post is magnifying a very specific tactic.
“No, I’m so sorry I am very busy! Next time for sure.”
Every, single time I see a smiling HRC canvaser, I brace for the dreaded question: “Do you have a moment to spare for gay rights?” My usual response, and I believe, anecdotally, most people’s responses are something along the line of: “No, I’m so sorry I am very busy! Next time.” I’ve started to play around with a few different phrases but haven’t found any that hit right for me like, “I have no money to give, but you see… I am gay?”
The canvasser’s question “Do you have a moment to support X, Y, or Z” touches on three main points: 1 Forcing your declaration of support for a cause rather than the organization itself, 2. implies the canvasser is welcome to dialogue when they may not be, and 3. ignores the individual’s lived experiences.
1. The question publicly forces your hand to declare your stance on a CAUSE rather than the specifics of donating to an ORGANIZATION.
If I do not stop to talk with the canvasser, I feel that I am giving this impression that I do not support or care about gay rights (or women’s rights, climate change, etc.). If I do stop, I may be haggled into donating money that I may not be able to give. For example, when I do have available money to donate to an LGBT organization, my charity of choice is the Trevor Project. This quick, public “gotcha” question though from the canvasser does not care about that choice. Of course — this marketing strategy seemingly works, but to what cost.
2. The question implies that dialogues around the social cause or social issue are available, but you quickly realize it is simply a sales pitch.
Too much dialogue means the canvasser has less time and is therefore able to talk to less people. For example, I have stopped to talk to canvassers before about advice on what I could do to make an impact on climate change in my own life — but it’s clear that there is not room for that kind of dialogue — there just isn’t time. I understand the canvasser is there to solicit for the organization, but it would be more helpful, in my opinion, if this canvas culture allowed for dialogue without the sole intention to secure donation.
Canvasing could allow for dialogue without the sole intention to secure donation.
3. The question ignores my own identity and lived experience.
This is the part that actually makes me anxious when I see an HRC canvasser. I have experienced an incredible amount of hurt and pain from growing up gay in a homophobic society. With incredible therapists, friends, and spiritual guides, I have found a lot of spiritual power and immense growth in healing. When I hear that little phrase: “Do you have a moment for gay rights?” My immediate thought truly is: “Are you fucking kidding me? A moment? How about every. single. day and every. single. night. How about the nightmares I wake up crying from? How about walking down a dark street wondering if this will be the day someone hurts me for being gay … and you just asked me if I have … a moment …”
I truly understand that nonprofits need to market themselves to get the appropriate funds to support their cause and this post truly is not meant to shame canvassers. If I was in a financially better place, I would donate heavily to the charities I care most about. If anything from this post, I ask organizations that canvas for money to be a bit more mindful as to how they present themselves, pose questions, and their mission statement around canvassing.
Please let me know what you think! I truly am wondering if this is just a personal, anecdotal opinion or if this resinates with a wider audience. Tweet me at @michamoore.
