san diego
Coalition of labor leaders, same-sex marriage supporters boycott Manchester
Two organizations lead local and statewide campaigns
Published Thursday, 10-Jul-2008 in issue 1072
A coalition of labor leaders and supporters of same-sex marriage announced today a full-scale boycott of the Manchester Grand Hyatt and other Manchester-owned properties.
Douglas Manchester, a San Diego businessman, donated $125,000 to ProtectMarriage.com, the organization behind Proposition 8, the November ballot initiative that would limit marriage to between one man and one woman.
The coalition – which includes labor union UNITE Here Local 30, a new nonprofit organization called Californians Against Hate, and is supported by City Council candidate Todd Gloria, San Diego Pride at Work, San Diego LGBT Pride and a number of community leaders – aims to inform Californians about Manchester’s contributions.
“We are going to run a strong, multifaceted boycott, and the union is going to marshal all of its resources,” said UNITE Here Local 30’s political director, Dan Rottenstreich. “We know how to make this effective and we are going to do everything we can to educate the workers of the hotel, to educate San Diegans and to educate the customers of the hotel about Doug Manchester’s discrimination, and discrimination at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.”
The labor union is also targeting what it says is discrimination against women and employees at the Manchester-owned Hyatt in Downtown San Diego. According to the union, hotel housekeepers are forced to clean more rooms than housekeepers at other hotels, and employees have no job security if the hotel is sold.
The organization Californians Against Hate, which supports UNITE Here Local 30’s efforts, is focused solely on disseminating information about the marriage initiative’s donors. The organization launched three Web sites this week, CaliforniansAgainstHate.com, BoycottManchesterHotels.com and MarchOnManchester.com, to promote a July 18 demonstration at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.
Fred Karger, the spokesperson for Californians Against Hate who joined UNITE Here Local 30 today for a press conference, plans to use social networking sites like Facebook to get the word out.
Karger’s group plans to list on its Web site business owners and individuals who donate more than $5,000 to ProtectMarriage.com.
“Our goal is to make sure that every person in the nation is aware of the financial support being given to [Proposition 8],” Karger said. “We will list these donors on our Web site and act as a truth squad, and go all over the country through new media to bring attention to these businesses and these people. The motivation, I think, of so many of these donors is fear and hate, and I definitely don’t think they should be allowed to contribute with impunity. I think the reaction of the public should be to not support their businesses.”
Until now, community leaders have avoided launching a formal boycott against Manchester’s properties. Rather, they have focused on defeating Proposition 8. Some have said a boycott of Manchester’s properties would utilize volunteer and financial resources needed to win in November. Some say, however, educating travelers about the boycott is a small part of the larger campaign.
“Wealthy donors like Doug Manchester should be on notice that their support for Proposition 8 will not be tolerated by our community,” said Cleve Jones, founder of the NAMES project and creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. “Our community’s top priority is educating all Californians about the importance of defeating Prop 8 and preserving the freedom to marry in California. At the same time, we will also ensure that discriminators like Doug Manchester do not profit off the hard-earned dollars of our community.”
UNITE Here Local 30 and Californians Against Hate will not ask for financial contributions or volunteers to launch the boycott, Rottenstreich and Karger said. Karger has funded his effort and is working with a small team of people to identify the initiative’s largest donors.
“In San Diego, the union is taking the lead on marshaling the resources needed to make the boycott effective, and the union is not going to be requesting any donations or any volunteers for the effort,” Rottenstreich said. “We know, at this time, the fight to defeat Proposition 8 is the top priority for the gay community, so the union will look to its members to lead this effort.”
In April, a spokesperson for the Manchester Grand Hyatt said the property is gay-friendly, despite Manchester’s opposition to same-sex marriage.
“Hyatt corporation has a 100 percent rating by HRC (Human Rights Campaign) for the diversity training we do at our properties,” said Kelly Commerford, director of marketing at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. “We’re very gay friendly, gay supportive … We do not discriminate as a company and we have open arms for the LGBT market. That being said, this hotel is owned by an independent owner and that independent owner has certain political and religious beliefs. [Manchester] did make a contribution to the marriage coalition defending marriage between a man and a woman. Does he discriminate against LGBT individuals? Absolutely not. He’s very open to having their business at his hotel.”
Flex
says:
Manchester donated $150,000 to a lunatic, right-wing, organization whose only purpose is to destroy the legal marriage benefits of gay people. That was intentional, and it was a tremendous amount of money! I see only one option for him to redeem his flamboyant act of ignorance. He would need to donate twice the amount to the organization trying to protect marriage for everyone, and issue a formal appology. That would be a class act on his part, and would make things square!
Jul 10, 2008 3:02 PM
Christopher Allen
says:
My favorite part of this article is that while Ms. Commerfield welcomes LGBT individuals for business...and who wouldn't for "a buck" these days, says nothing in regards to positive humanitarian beliefs towards our community. What corporate giant wouldn't? What idiotic statements. Diversity training? Sure...anything for business and the mighty dollar, then slap them verbally as they leave.!
Jul 10, 2008 4:03 PM
Terry
says:
Of course "He’s very open to having their business at his hotel.” Its
called taking money from the gay community and using it against us. He
deserves a boycott, whether Hyatt scores a 100% by HRC or not.
Jul 10, 2008 6:43 PM
MickeyC
says:
You gotta love it. Manchester financially supports discrimination but wants those he discriminates against to put the money in his pocket to do it. Does he believe that being gay also makes you a moron?
Jul 10, 2008 7:21 PM
Charlotte
says:
There will always be people against equality. At least they are making themselves known. Education is key on this issue. Marriage is a basic civil right that should be attainable by all Americans if they choose. For those who are uncomfortable with gay marriage check out our short produced to educate & defuse the controversy. It has a way of opening closed minds & provides some sanity on the issue: www.OUTTAKEonline.com
Jul 11, 2008 4:51 AM
Greg
says:
Boycott, and, post every donor to this anti-gay marriage initiative and its a joke, I'll take your coins, but, hate you and your lifestyle, ugh, the right wing zealots are just too creepy with their sick logic.
Jul 11, 2008 7:44 AM
FollowtheMoney
says:
I heard that Todd Gloria, of all people, has received a bunch of
contirubtions from Manchester and other right wing homophobic nut cases who
have given money to fight Gay Marriage.
Jul 12, 2008 9:36 PM
paulinsandiego
says:
The boycott is fine, as long as the "community" knows what they are
boycotting about.
Jul 14, 2008 10:39 AM
Always the wrong way!
says:
First why are so many gays emotional? Where is the tollerance that this commuity always preches? "Don't Hate"? is this not the progessive chant of the gay commuity? That is what some of you keep telling everyone! The very thing you question others on, you do! SHAME ON YOU! Are those of us who are gay and don't want gay marrige homophobic nut jobs? That kinda talk is emotional insecurity! we are your many friends that don't tell you what we think! This behavior is what makes others not support you! And thus turn on you! learn to think about what your doing and not be so victimized by your emotinons!
Jul 15, 2008 10:56 PM
The other side of the story
says:
The labor union lacal 30 is the union for local hotel employes! And the Manchester Hyatt hotel is none union!! That was NOT mentioned here! This is why the union wants to get involeved its in there best intrest to push the employess to become unionized!! The gay thing is being used as another ploy!! Belive me, not all that many in the unions are any where close to being pro gay!! PS.. If the employees want to be union it has to be voted for by all the employees there!! so its a no go, by their choice!
Jul 15, 2008 11:06 PM
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