Manchester Hotels Boycott Going Global

Manchester hotels has reportedly suffered a loss of atleast 7 million dollars thanks to an LGBT boycott after the owner Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to the anti-gay proposition 8 referendum in California which eliminated the states marriage rights for same-sex couples.

There have been calls for conferences scheduled there to be moved, with over a dozen of them such as the American Association for Justice heeding the call.

Boycott organizers are taking their message global creating posters in English, Spanish, and Japanese.

Please make sure to continue boycotting these properties and alert your friends and family.

Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, CA

Grand del Mar Resort, San Diego, CA

Whitetail Club and Resort, McCall, Idaho

http://www.boycottmanchesterhotels.com/

American Association for Justice Join Boycott of Manchester Grand Hyatt

The boycott damages that have come as a result of support by some for proposition 8 have not ended. The Manchester Grand Hyatt has been a target by gay rights activists and has suffered millions of dollars in losses as a result of the owners support for the anti-gay marriage amendment.

The American Association for Justice (AAJ) – and its 2,000-plus attorney members are moving their annual summer convention to San Francisco. The event was originally scheduled to be held at Manchester’s Hyatt in San Diego, but after Manchester contributed $125,000 to the “Yes on Proposition 8” campaign and the ensuing boycott, the AAJ decided to take its lucrative business away.

Manchester Hyatt has already lost a purported $7 million in the last year as a coalition of labor and GLBT organizations have banded together for the boycott. Californians Against Hate partnered with Unite Here Local 30 (the hotel worker’s union) and several other GLBT organizations, including San Diego Pride July 18, 2008. (Lavender Liberal).

Contact the American Association for Justice and let them know you take pride in their choice to move the conference away from the Manchester hotel.

American Association for Justice
777 6th Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
800.424.2725 or 202.965.3500

Human Resources - hr@justice.org

Companies to Boycott Over Prop 8!

The Human Rights Campaign has created a comprehensive list of dozens of organizations that have contributed to proposition 8, please boycott the businesses on the list below.

Click here for the listing.

Ken Garff Automotive Group Boycott Called Off

2/28/09: A California gay-rights group announced Friday it is formally ending a boycott of one of Utah's most high-profile car dealerships.

Fred Karger, director of Californians Against Hate, said Friday the two-week boycott of Ken Garff Automotive Group was being called off immediately, following a series of meetings that included face-to-face discussions between company principals John and Robert Garff and Utah philanthropist Bruce Bastian, a leading gay-rights advocate. (Californians Against Hate)

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2/11/09: Mrs. Katharine Garff, mother of Ken Garff Automotive Group Chairman of the Board and CEO Robert Heiner Garff, gave $100,000.00 to the California’s Yes on Proposition 8 campaign to take away the rights of gays and lesbians. In the past 9 years, Katharine Garff had only given $3,000 in political contributions, all to U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch. Now all of a sudden she becomes one of the largest contributors to Prop. 8 in the country.

The Garff family owns dozens of car dealerships in 4 states — Utah, California, Texas and Iowa. Please support this important Boycott and support equality for all.

http://www.boycottkengarffautomotive.com/

Utah Dealerships

• Ken Garff Chrysler Jeep Dodge
  4175 W 3500 S
  West Valley, UT 84120
• Ken Garff Ford
  597 East 1000 South
  American Fork, UT 84003
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Ken Garff Honda Downtown
  64 E. 900 South
  Salt Lake City, UT 84111
• Ken Garff Honda Ogden
  900 W. Riverdale Road
  Ogden, UT 84405
• Ken Garff Honda of Orem
  115 E. University Parkway
  Orem, UT 84058
• Ken Garff Hyundai
  198 East 500 South
  Salt Lake City, UT 84111
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Ken Garff Jaguar
  543 South State Street
  Salt Lake City, UT 84111
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Ken Garff Mercedes
  575 South State Street
  Salt Lake City, UT 84111
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Ken Garff Mitsubishi Downtown
  150 East 500 South
  Salt Lake City, UT 84111
• Ken Garff Nissan Riverdale
  615 W. Riverdale Road
  Riverdale, UT 84405
• Ken Garff Nissan Salt Lake
  777 S. West Temple
  Salt Lake City, UT 84101
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Ken Garff Nissan of Orem
  285 W. University Parkway
  Orem, UT 84058
• Ken Garff Porsche Audi VW
  196 E. University Parkway
  Orem, UT 84058
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Ken Garff Buick Pontiac GMC Mitsubishi
  900 W. Riverdale Rd.
  Ogden, UT 84405
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Ken Garff Saab
  560 S 200 E
  Salt Lake City, UT 84111
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Ken Garff Volvo
  525 South State Street
  Salt Lake City, UT 84111

California Dealerships

• Surf City Nissan
  17331 Beach Blvd.
  Huntington Beach, CA 92647
  800-615-9640
• Stadium Nissan
  1140 W. Katella Ave.
  Orange, CA 92867
  866-374-8080
• Puente Hills Subaru
  17801 E. Gale Avenue
  City of Industry, CA 91748
  626-626-4800
• Ken Garff Chevrolet Cadillac of the Desert
  78-611 US Highway 111
  LA QUINTA, CA 92253
  866-889-2520
• Acura of the Desert
  68-100 Perez Rd.
  Cathedral City, CA 92234
  800-549-0463
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Toyota of the Desert
  68-105 Kyle Rd.
  Cathedral City, CA 92234
  866-650-7306
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com

Texas Dealerships

• Texan Pontiac GMC Buick
  18225 Eastex Freeway
  Humble, TX 77338
  281-973-5827
• Casa Pontiac GMC Buick
  1701 I-10 East
  Baytown, TX 77521
  800-481-4397
• Northwest Dodge
  19616 NW Freeway
  Houston, TX 77065
  800-496-0939
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Clearlake Dodge
  15711 Gulf Freeway
  Webster, TX 77598
  800-619-0103

Iowa Dealerships

• Dewey Ford
  3055 S E Delaware Ave.
  Ankeny, Iowa 50021
  800-807-8240
• Dewey Dodge Jeep
  3175 S E Delaware Ave.
  Ankeny, Iowa 50021
  888-364-6908
• Stew Hansen Dodge City Jeep
  12103 Hickman
  Des Moines, Iowa 50323
  888-993-8282
  Leave feedback on Yelp.com
• Stew Hansen Chrysler Dodge Jeep
  2412 N. Jefferson
  Indianola, Iowa 50125
  888-687-4576

Help spread the word through Yelp.com that Mrs. Garff’s $100,000.00 contribution to Yes on 8 will cost them lost car sales. Follow the link to Yelp.com and enter Garff Automotive Group. Leave a comment on what you think about their enormous support for Prop 8. Comments can be posted for any of Garff Automotive owned dealer around the U.S.

Boycott Jamaica!

There have been increasing calls from gay rights groups about boycotting Jamaica over its fiercely homophobic culture and the violence and danger faced in the country by gays and lesbians as well as gender variant people. The Jamaican tourism industry has been ignoring the cries of human rights and LGBT rights activists who are demanding change in the country.

The violence is staggering, people are being murdered or beaten on an almost weekly basis, and the musical lyrics are blatantly anti-gay and violent.

Tourism accounts for 1/3 of all employment in Jamaica, let the tourism officials know you will spread word to boycott Jamaican travel and goods until they do something to combat hate crimes against Gay citizens.

http://www.visitjamaica.com/contact-us.aspx

Former President Clinton Urged to Move Speech From Boycotted Hotel

Several groups have banded together urging former President Bill Clinton not to speak at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The hotel is owned by Doug Manchester who donated 125,000 to proposition 8.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON FOUNDATION
55 West 125th St., New York, NY 10027
E-Contact Form

http://moveclintonspeech.info/

Urban Outfitters Not Down With SSM T-Shirts

UPDATE: I received this email from Urban Outfitters.

The charges that we discontinued the t-shirt because of pressure from proponents of Proposition 8 are false. We’re a company that has always embraced diversity. In fact our designers are currently working on a t-shirt in support of same sex marriage. Proceeds from its sales will be donated to a legal fund supporting the civil rights of the gay and lesbian community. If you require additional assistance, please feel free to email us at service@urbanoutfitters.com.

Sincerely,
Ana Pressley
Urban Outfitters Customer Service

Well, I don't know if the pulling of the shirt was related to proposition 8 or not, but I do see it as suspicious. Nonetheless thanks for taking action, it seems they are hearing us out and that good may come out of this fiasco.

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12/13/08: The trendy clothing retailer Urban Outfitters pulled a T-shirt with a pro-marriage equality message within days of the item first appearing in stores and at the company’s web site.

A buyer for Urban Outfitters told shirt deigner Tara Littman of Supprt Shirts that the item had garnered "too much bad press," although New York Magazine said that Littman, looking into the matter for herself, was able to identify only one blog item as expressing a negative opinion about the shirt. (Wicked Gay Blog)

Interesting to note, Good as You has posted an image showing an impartial list of CEO Richard Hayne's campaign contributions.
































Next on the queer boycott list? "We report, you decide" ;)

Urban Outfitters E-Contact Form.

Customer Service (800) 959-8794

Boycott A-1 Self Storage!

Californians Against Hate has launched a new website urging for a call to boycott A-1 Self Storage. Previously we blogged in July about Mr. Terry Caster a California businessman who owns A-1 Self Storage contributing nearly 300,000 dollars to support eliminating marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples in California via proposition 8.

His reason for donating:

"Without solid marriage, you are going to have a sick society,"

In October, Mr. Caster more than doubled his previous donation, bringing his total donation to proposition 8 to 693,000 dollars, making his family the 2nd largest contributor to the proposition.

Let the company know that you will be boycotting them over the Caster families donation to proposition 8.

Corporate Office Number: 800-219-4854 ext. 106

A-1 Customer Service Number: 800-210-8979

The Boycott A-1 Self Storage website has a listing of all the locations to avoid.

No MILK For Cinemark!

The CEO of Cinemark, Alan Stock, donated $9999 to the Yes on 8 Campaign, but will now profit from showing MILK in his theaters.

As of sunday evening, they have exceeded 1,000 facebook members who have joined the cause!

But it’s just a start—we need to keep going to make the biggest impact we can. Our new goal is 10,000 members—This is aggressive but we think it’s possible. Let’s keep it going!

Boycotts work. A boycott of a Sacramento theatre company resulted not only in the resignation of a Yes on 8 contributor,
but a public apology and donation to Human Rights
Campaign! We can do this again.

You can find an alternative theater using the links on the left, and join our facebook group below to spread the word!

Check out the No MILK for Cinemark campaign, for fliers, facebook group, gay-friendly theaters, and ones to avoid who donated to prop 8.

Androgynous Musician "Prince" Makes Anti-Gay Name for Self

The always androgynous, sexually ambiguous Prince has come out with his anti-gay sentiments. In an interview with a Christian businessman he made an inference to the biblical cities "Sodom & Gomorrah" indicating that God wiped out those cities due to widespread homosexuality.

"He pointed to a Bible. But there’s the problem of interpretation, and you’ve got some churches, some people, basically doing things and saying it comes from here, but it doesn’t. And then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got blue, you’ve got the Democrats, and they’re, like, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ Gay marriage, whatever. But neither of them is right.” When asked about his perspective on social issues—gay marriage, abortion—Prince tapped his Bible and said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough." (JMG)

Prince may be androgynous and helps breaking down label barriers, but he is far from royal when it comes to issues of diversity, boycott Prince!

Boycott and Contact Anti-Gay Bahrain!

Bahrain has begun a new campaign targeting gay/lesbian citizens in a bid to cleanse them from the country. The government is working to ban all foreign homosexuals from being able to obtain residence. The government is also conducting a study to see how widespread homosexuality is in the country and what can be done to counter it. The government also advises teachers to look out for signs of homosexuality amongst students and to take appropriate disciplinary action.

This is outrageous and our voices must be heard!

Click here to email the Economic Development Board


(The EDB is responsible for business and tourism within the country)

Boycott Threatened over Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting Location

UPDATE: The AALS has joined in boycotting the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel over its owners donation to anti same-sex marriage amendment in California. Thank you for joining Californians Against Hate & Queers United in demanding a change of location. The statement below was released on the AALS website.

"The AALS 2009 Annual Meeting will take place January 6-10, 2009, in San Diego, California. Several years ago the Association booked rooms at the San Diego Marriott and the Manchester Grand Hyatt. In the last few weeks there have been suggestions that the Association should boycott the Hyatt because its owner has contributed money to a ballot initiative designed to overturn the California Supreme Court's May decision in favor of same-sex marriage. In addressing this issue, the Executive Committee has sought to ensure that the Annual Meeting serves the needs of all participants to the maximum extent possible given our contractual obligations to the hotels.

Our contracts with the hotels provide that each hotel reserve a block of guest rooms, and leave to the AALS the choice of where to locate the AALS Registration, Exhibit Hall, Section Programs, Presidential Programs, and House of Representatives meetings. We will honor our contracts with both hotels, and we have exercised our option to hold all AALS events at the Marriott to ensure the maximum participation by our members."

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The Association of American Law Schools is scheduled to hold their annual meeting Jan 6-10, 2009 in California at the San Diego Manchester Grand Hyatt. The hotel has been a site of controversy and protest because of the owner, Mr. Manchester's financial contribution to the anti-marriage amendment (proposition 8) in California. Gay rights backers in addition to dozens of legal organizations who were to be at the conference are threatening to boycott the conference if an alternative venue is not chosen.

Click and call below to urge AALS to use a different venue...

Email - aals@aals.org

Association of American Law Schools
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20036-2717
tel: 202/296-8851
fax: 202/296-8869

Urge SDCERA to Hold Conference Elsewhere!

The San Diego County Employees Retirement Association is scheduled to hold their conference Oct 12-14. The amount of money from the conference will generate $50,000 for the Manchester Grand Hyatt whose owner Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to help defeat same-sex marriage in California.

Contact SDCERA and tell them to use a different venue. They have people they represent who are LGBT and their money should not goto this anti-gay establishment.

San Diego County Employees Retirement Association
2275 Rio Bonito Way, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92108-1685

communications@sdcera.org

619.515.6800 or 888.4.SDCERA

Boycott Manchester Grand Hyatt, and the Grand Del Mar in California

"Same-sex marriage advocates urged travelers Thursday to boycott two hotels owned by a San Diego County businessman who gave $125,000 to a group backing a California ballot initiative to ban gay marriage.

Doug Manchester, who owns the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego and the Grand Del Mar golf resort near La Jolla, donated the money to the National Organization for Marriage in January"

Email the top management at these hotels!

H/T to Blog Active for the story.

Boycott Bolthouse Farms

"Bakersfield carrot farmer William Bolthouse donated $100,000 to an initiative aiming to fight gay marriage — a measure that will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot along with the presidential race. The initiative qualified for the ballot Monday, less than a month after the state Supreme Court overturned a ban on gay marriage. June 17 marks the date when California counties will be permitted to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The National Organization for Marriage California donated $700,000 to the campaign. One of the organization’s largest financial contributors includes Bolthouse, who declined to comment about his donation Tuesday. The measure’s proponents said the campaign to promote the initiative may exceed $30 million. Supporters have spent about $1.8 million to collect signatures and publicize the initiative, according to campaign filings. Other supporters include San Diego developer Terry Caster ($172,000); hotel developer Manchester Financial Group of San Diego ($125,000); Fieldstead and Co. of Irvine ($400,000) and Knights of Columbus Headquarters in Connecticut ($250,000).

According to Wikipedia, Bolthouse sold a 57% majority stake in the company two years ago but his family still controls the remainder."

Contact Bolthouse and let them know you will boycott them:
http://www.bolthouse.com/ContactUs.aspx

H/T to JoeMyGod for the story.

Keep up the Pressure on Jamaican Government

Prime Minister Bruce Golding of Jamaica has announced he would not allow gay people to be part of his cabinet. This is part of a continuing campaign by the Jamaican government to ostracize and endanger the lives of LGBT citizens. The hate crimes in Jamaica are staggering with several gay people murdered and beaten annually. There is rampant homophobia in the culture, throughout musical lyrics, and hate spewing from religious as well as political authorities.

Please contact government officials and tell them you will be boycotting Jamaican tourism and goods, and demand that they enact laws safeguarding their LGBT citizens.

The following link enables you to send an email to the Prime Minister, his cabinet, the Ministry of Tourism, and other important officials.

Click Here to Contact Government Officials!

Protest Scheduled at Boy Scouts of America National Conference

Scouting for All will be protesting at the Boy Scouts of America National Conference to be held May 21-23, 2008.

Here are the details we know as of right now:

LOCATION
Manchester Grand Hyatt
1 Market Pl.
San Diego, California., 92101.
Hotel phone: 1-619-232-1234.

For further information contact Howard Menzer, Scouting for All SouthWestern Regional Director, Email: howmen@sbcglobal.net

We'd like to see a large gathering to protest along with us. We are protesting the BSA's national policy of discrimination, which excludes both the gay and atheist communities, adults and children.

Embrace Your BillO'phobia!

Check out this video by Media Matters, it is a small sampling of the many anti-gay things Bill O'Reilly has said on his Fox News show. His show is reaching an audience of millions of Americans per night, and he must be held accountable for his hateful rhetoric.

Contact Bill O'Reilly and Fox News and tell them to cut out their homophobic and transphobic coverage.

Email: oreilly@foxnews.com

Email: Comments@foxnews.com

Phone: 1-888-369-4762

Fox General Contact Form:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77538,00.html