one comment | The publicist for local hotelier Doug Manchester announced recently in the Gay and Lesbian Times that Manchester intends to launch a Web site where gay and lesbian organizations can apply for $125,000 in grants — money he hopes will end our community’s boycott of his Grand Hyatt hotel downtown. The boycott, however, stems not only from the LGBT community but also from the Labor community — and neither community will end its boycott of Manchester until he settles with both.
Thus far, LGBT organizations have rightly refused to take Manchester’s money. Groups like Marriage Equality USA, the San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality, the San Diego Equality Campaign, The San Diego LGBT Community Center and Pride At Work, and community figures ranging from City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez to Democratic Party Chair Jess Durfee to former Republican consultant Fred Karger have stood firm in the boycott. It is the right thing to do.
The LGBT community and the Labor community have formed a powerful coalition to jointly boycott Manchester until he respects the rights of both of our communities. Manchester gave $125,000 to the “YES on 8″ campaign that took away the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry.
Communities are stronger when they work in coalition with other communities, and this coalition is no exception. There is strength in numbers. There are more than one million LGBT individuals in California alone and millions more workers who have - or should have - the representation of labor unions to ensure they are treated fairly. Combining our forces and standing together in coalition will go a long way toward advancing the human rights of both of our communities.
The Manchester boycott is honored by LGBT and Labor organizations not only in California but nationwide. The joint boycott has cost Manchester more than seven million dollars in lost business from potential customers in our state and elsewhere. He is attempting to break up this effective coalition by seeking to settle only with the LGBT community.
The San Diego LGBT community will honor its commitment to stand in coalition with Labor, just as Labor has honored its past commitments to stand in coalition with us (including Labor’s major support for our “NO on 8″ campaign last year). Trying to divide our coalition by offering money to LGBT organizations on the condition that they cross Labor’s picket line is transparent and unacceptable.
Indeed, Manchester may ultimately address the LGBT community’s anger toward him by apologizing, acknowledging the equal rights of gay and lesbian couples, and contributing towards the repeal of Proposition 8. But a settlement with the LGBT community will only be achieved in tandem with a settlement with our coalition partners in Labor.
Our communities are stronger when we stand together.
Stephen Whitburn is an activist in the LGBT community.
Tags: california election 2008, Doug Manchester, fred karger, jess durfee, labor community san diego, lgbt community san diego, Manchester Grand Hyatt, marriage equality usa, Nicole Murray-Ramirez, Prop 8, same-sex marriage, san diego alliance for marriage equality, san diego democratic party, San Diego Hotels, san diego lgbt community center and pride at work, SDNN, the san diego equality campaign
Comment by: Equality Posted: September 22, 2009, 10:04 am
Great Article.
I couldnt agree more. To end the boycott, both communities need to be involved!
Remember the Coors Beer boycott, this is the 2009 version!
Boycott the Manchester!