Staying at the Hyatt in for Comic Con? Guess where your money is going.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/politics/16846195/detail.html
SAN DIEGO — A $125,000 donation in support of an anti-gay marriage initiative by a San Diego hotelier has drawn the ire of gay and lesbian activists and local labor unions who are now calling for a boycott.
Organizers held a news conference in front of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, near Seaport Village, on Thursday. A coalition of LGBT community leaders and the labor movement spoke out against Doug Manchester, who contributed a donation in support of Proposition 8, which would allow only men and women to marry in the state of California. The group opposes the ballot measure because it threatens the recent state Supreme Court decision that allows marriage between men and women.
I know it’s unlikely that anyone is canceling a hotel reservation for Comic Con at this late date, but if you wanted to take the time to tell the owner what an asshole he is on those handy comment cards they provide you, or perhaps in other more creative ways, well, I would support your decision.
For my part, the Hyatt can go fuck itself. I’ll be drinking elsewhere. I’d invite you to do the same.
- Christopher, via [JoeMyGod]
July 16th, 2008 | by Chris
16 Responses
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July 16th, 2008 at 5:22 am
[…] Incidentally: Staying at the Hyatt this year? Guess where your money’s going! […]
July 16th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Instead of advocating a boycott, I would encourage everyone –- not just gay folks — to use only paper money at the hotel and to stamp a rainbow on each and every bill they use. Let them know just where their money is coming from.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:45 am
[…] Reservations confirmation Filed under: Conventions, Linkblogging — davidpwelsh @ 8:45 am Chris Butcher points out that the owner of San Diego’s Manchester Grand Hyatt made a substantial donation to efforts to pass Proposition 8, which would confine marriage in California to heterosexual couples. I guess that Hyatt property won’t be offering any honeymoon packages to same-sex couples either. “The group’s message Thursday was to urge residents and tourists to stay at other hotels. The boycott call comes at the height of the summer and just one week before the start of the 2008 Gay Pride festivities in San Diego, during which 200,000 attendees are expected to attend, according to festival organizers.” […]
July 16th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I WILL PUNISH YOU WITH MY MONEY
July 16th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
[…] Retailer/blogger Chris Butcher comments: I know it’s unlikely that anyone is canceling a hotel reservation for Comic Con at this late date, but if you wanted to take the time to tell the owner what an asshole he is on those handy comment cards they provide you, or perhaps in other more creative ways, well, I would support your decision. […]
July 16th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Now I wanna stay at the Hyatt so I can have a big gay group sex party!
July 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Wow. Screw that dude. I don’t drink but if I did it sure wouldn’t be there. If I set foot in the Hyatt this year it will just be be to fill out a comment card to tell that prick what I think of him.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Manchester also owns the Marriott, if people didn’t know, so that bar is out of the question as well.
http://www.topix.com/news/gay/2008/03/developer-a-foe-of-same-sex-marriage-boycott-his-grand-hyatt-san-diego-marriott-hotel-and-marina
July 17th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
[…] Notables: Unfortunately, tickets are now sold out Free Wi-Fi this year! Hyatt controversy? […]
July 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
d’oh!
July 17th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Chynna- Thanks for the heads-up. There seems to be some confusion on the Marriot issue, with some people on that thread saying he doesn’t own it. I’m hoping for independent confirmation, but the boycott manchester site doesn’t mention the Marriot anywhere…?
July 17th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Oh, here we go:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080315-9999-1m15samesex.html
“By MVAnSD on 03/19/2008 at 1:47 p.m.
It’s a shame that the Union Tribune reports “the Manchester-owned San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina.” The San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina’s majority ownership is Host Hotels and Resorts, with Doug Manchester having an extremly small ownership percentage since Marriott began buying him out some 10 years ago.
The Marriott has been a great partner in the Gay and Lesbian Community for several years, hosting the Centers Annual Gala 7 times and making significant contributions to the Gala. Marriott has also played host to the Gay Softball World Series and the International Gay Volleyball Championships. They have also hosted two Gentleman’s Martini Nights, welcoming the community to their hotel.
Yes, Doug Manchester developed the hotel 25 years ago and maintains a small ownership percentage, but it is not the “Manchester-owned San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina”, it is the Host Hotels and Resorts owned Marriott Hotel and Marina.”
–
So he sold it off and maintains an investment in it. I can deal with that. I’m sure he owns shares in lots of shit.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:08 am
[…] Chris Butcher makes his opinion clear. […]
July 19th, 2008 at 12:12 am
[…] Chris Butcher makes his opinion clear. […]
July 19th, 2008 at 12:14 am
[…] Chris Butcher makes his opinion clear. […]
July 24th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Freedom is great…until you do something a loud minority doesn’t approve of. Don’t like what’s happening? Stay somewhere else! Doug Manchester has every bit the right to support a cause he believes in as you people have to complain and support the opposing side.