In San Francisco's gay Castro district, several residents and merchants said Wednesday they endorsed the cause but didn't think a work stoppage was practical given the poor economy.
Participants also were asked to refrain from spending money or at least to patronize gay-friendly businesses.
People who opted to take the day off from their jobs were encouraged to perform community service, and several charitable organizations in California had volunteers showing up.
Meanwhile, a San Francisco-based nonprofit group that promotes equality for gay and lesbian employees suggested that gay marriage supporters could send an effective message by openly discussing the issue at their workplaces.
