» Hyatt Fight Update.

"Same-sex marriage advocates demanded Friday that Hyatt Hotels Corp. end its relationship with a business partner who is financially backing a California ballot initiative to ban gay marriage. Picketers outside the Manchester Grand Hyatt waved rainbow banners and signs reading "The 'Hyatt' of Hypocrisy" to protest owner Doug Manchester's $125,000 donation to a group backing the November ballot measure. If it passes, the amendment, known as Proposition 8, would overrule the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in the state as of June 16." [Mercury News]

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There's more bent backlash for San Diego business man Doug Manchester.

GLAAD fired the first shot last month when they announced they would not hold their annual Pride Rocks event at Manchester's Hyatt hotel. The reason? Manchester donated $125,000 of his own money to an initiative aimed at reversing California's gay marriage ruling.

Now, equally furious at Manchester's contribution, a group of gay leaders are calling for a boycott of Manchester's hotels.

Fred Karger, who is helping to organize the boycott and is running an organization opposed to Proposition 8, said he is also urging the public to boycott Manchester's other hotel, the Grand Del Mar.

“This is someone who is giving an exorbitant amount of money to write discrimination into the constitution for the very first time,” he said.

Karger said he hopes the boycott will send a message to other potential contributors to the Proposition 8 campaign.

“Our goal is to create a business loss for people who contribute,” he said. “We want to make it a little uncomfortable.”

Karger and company made clear that they have no beef with Hyatt hotels in general, just Manchester. Manchester, meanwhile, insists he has nothing personally against gay people, just gay marriage, and still welcomes the homos in his hotel. We're sure he does…

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Homophobic policies can cost you. Hotelier Doug Manchester learned that lesson yesterday after GLAAD canceled its "Pride Rocks" reservation at Manchester's Hyatt after learning that Manchester contributed $125,000 to get a gay marriage ban on November's ballot. That initiative garnered enough signatures just this week.

GLAAD president Neil Giuliano insists his organization will endorse other Hyatt "Pride Rocks" events, but simply cannot condone Manchester's branch:

Mr. Manchester‘s decision to fund an initiative that would hurt loving, committed gay couples makes it impossible for us to continue to be associated with any promotion of his venue. GLAAD strongly encourages members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to speak as one and to withdraw their support from this venue’s event as well.

Consider it done. We prefer the Comfort Inn, anyway.



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