Under current law in the Kingdom of Brunei, the maximum punishment for homosexual sex is 10 years in prison.
Which is awful.
Expect that the nation is getting ready to enact a penal code reform that calls for the stoning to death of homosexuals (along with those who rob, commit sodomy, insult the Koran or declare oneself to be a prophet).
For reasons too obvious to state, this has agencies like the United Nations a bit worked up. They’ve urged the nation to reconsider, saying the punishment “contravenes international law.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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But the Sultan of Brunei (who also happens to be Brunei’s Prime Minister, go figure) is facing more backlash in the least likely of places – from the iconic pink walls of the Beverly Hills Hotel.
The Sultan, or Hassanal Bolkiah, is estimated to be worth somewhere around $20 billion, and his investment group has its fingers in many a honey pot.
So even as the leader of a socially oppressive Southeast Asian nation, he owns properties like the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Principe di Savoia in Milan, Le Meurice in Paris and the Dorchester in London – all luxury hotels that must see as much gay sex go down than Labor Day on Fire Island.
LGBT advocacy group The Gill Action Fund was all set to hold its ‘Winning the Heartland’ conference for political donors at the Beverly Hills Hotel from May 1-4, but now they’re very publicly looking for a new host.
“In light of the horrific anti-gay policy approved by the Government of Brunei, Gill Action made the decision earlier today to relocate its conference from the Beverly Hills Hotel to another property,” Gill Action Executive Director Kirk Fordham told washingtonblade.com. “We are seeking a return of all deposits.”
And members of the fashion industry like shoe designer Brian Atwood and designer Peter Som are calling for a similar boycott of the properties, which are favorites among industry professionals and press during events like fashion week.
“Send a clear signal to their owner, the Sultan of Brunei, that stoning people to death for being gay in Brunei is not acceptable,” wrote Atwood. Since the law comes into effect Tuesday, he added: “Why not cancel your bookings tomorrow?”
While it’s unclear to what degree that signal will be received by the Sultan, it’s important that anyone planning to pay the (very) high price tag at these hotels know where their money is going.
Cam
Thank you for pointing this out, Any additional properties that he owns??
Stache99
This goes far deeper then just some business guy in a repressive country. He makes the rules so fuck him every which was you can. Supporting that hotel is literally supporting these abuses.
I can’t wait for a day we get off of petroleum. Let them be the sh*t hole they were always meant to be.
TampaBayTed
I suspicious of any religion when you have to pray staring at the man’s asshole in front of you. The Sultan probably has his “ladies” on the side, so I guess his sexual escapades are beyond reproach. “It’s good to be the King (or Sultan). Boycott his businesses.
scotshot
@TampaBayTed: I can tell you that I’ve prayed to bury my face in a man’s asshole many, many times.
In this situation though, I totally agree with you.
Chevelter
This is a very sad situation. The Beverly Hills Hotel has been gay-supportive for many years. A high percentage of employees are gay, and the management has had an equality position for eons (It’s Hollywood, for chrissakes!). They have hosted gay meetings and events, and advertise themselves as great place for same-sex marriage ceremonies.
The staff at this hotel is superb, friendly and welcoming of everyone. It is sad they are caught in the middle of this cultural battle. The so-called “owner” has never set foot on the property and owns so many billions of dollars worth of property around the world that BHH is a mere speck. He won’t even notice nor care. What good does it do to punish the good people at this hotel? Nothing.
The hotel issued the following statement, which queerty either didn’t know about or didn’t bother to post because it interferes with the sensational nature of the story:
“We do not tolerate any form of discrimination of any kind. We are also against any law in any other country around the world that punishes people for their religious beliefs, ethnicity, race or sexual orientation. The laws and policies that govern how we run our hotel have nothing to do with the laws that exist in any other country outside of the United States. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and strongly value people and cultural diversity amongst our guests and employees.”
Mezaien
They are all F.U.C.K.I.N.G Muslim, what you expect?.
inbama
@Chevelter: On the other hand, this is way worse than that jerk former CEO at Firefox.
Chevelter
@ inbama: To what extent are we willing to sacrifice a friend and ally of the gay community to try to change the mind of a Muslim billionaire? Our own people and our allies operate The Beverly Hills Hotel, and quite superbly. The staff there is wonderful and I know several by name, and they know mine when I visit.
In the case of the CEO at Firefox, Firefox could fire the CEO. How does a hotel fire its Muslim billionaire absentee “owner”?
Cam
@Chevelter:
So because you like the check-in staff at the hotel we should put money into the hand of the man who is preparing to pass a law to attack thousands of gays in his country?
Chevelter
@ Cam: The Muslim ruler has invested tens of BILLIONS (with a B) of his oil money in properties all over the world, yet the one being singled out for a boycott happens to be the most gay-friendly one of the bunch, a property that has a long track record of equality, treats gay guests and employees wonderfully and advertises openly that it welcomes same-sex wedding ceremonies? I’ve participated in my share of boycotts over the years but this one seems misguided. The Sultan could toss the entire Beverly Hills Hotel into the trash and it wouldn’t be a blip on his petty cash box.