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07/12/08-07/14/08

Calif. Hyatt Boycotted After Owner Donates to Prop. 8

Gay rights advocates have begun boycotting the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego after owner Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to Proposition 8, reported the San Diego Union-Tribune’s website.

The hotel mogul’s contribution to the proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage in California has struck a nerve among gay rights supporters.

Fred Karger, an organizer of the boycott, told the Union-Tribune, “This is someone who is giving an exorbitant amount of money to write discrimination into the constitution for the very first time.”

Manchester told the Union-Tribune earlier this year that he decided to support Proposition 8 after learning that schools teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman could be sued for discrimination.

Despite also referring to his Catholic belief that marriage is between a man and a woman, he told the Union-Tribune that his hotels and restaurants would welcome gay and lesbian clientele. (The Advocate)

Keywords:  California marriage 
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Reader Comments

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  • Name: Thomas
    Date posted: 2008-11-16 12:12 PM
    Hometown: Palm Springs

    Comment:

    Shauna, exactly what religious rights are being taken away? What is your church being forced to comply with? Civil marriage recognized by the state and the sacrament of marriage celebrated in your church are two distinctly different things, whether you like it or not. You should really do some research. If you and your church believe homosexuality is immoral, then don't marry a woman. That's your choice. But despite what your church says, our country was founded on the principle that all men are created equal. The religious angle is a nice argument, but it doesn't hold water with anyone with some intelligence.


  • Name: Letz All Get Along
    Date posted: 2008-11-14 2:23 PM
    Hometown: Pasadena

    Comment:

    No one should be boycotted for being American. He did the right thing. All these rumors about him re his personal life seems irrelevant. People should let him be for practicing his rights to vote. I personally think it's cheesy for people to boycott someone for practicing the most common right in democracy: voting. We had RED scare during Cold War where people blacklisted people suspected to be communists. Now we have RAINBOW scare where angry anti-prop8 folks are blacklisting regular people for voicing how they want to live. Majority have spoken!


  • Name: Hetro
    Date posted: 2008-10-24 2:23 PM
    Hometown: Straightsville

    Comment:

    Learn how to spell first,then write a comment,Carl


  • Name: Shauna
    Date posted: 2008-10-20 11:13 PM
    Hometown: Orange County

    Comment:

    you do realize that the place they moved their convention to also supports Prop 8. They should really do some research. EVERYONE should have freedom of speech. Just because you are gay or lesbian doesnt mean that you should SHOVE your views down religions throats and the kids that have to learn about it as "totally normal and MORAL" from anyone other than their parents. Do you not still have all the rest of your rights? What exactly has been taken away, with a vote on Prop 8. Please explain.....I only see that religious beliefs of others are taken away and are making churches comply with something they feel is morally wrong. period.


  • Name: carl
    Date posted: 2008-10-19 12:02 PM
    Hometown: La Jolla, CA

    Comment:

    As I write this, Doug Manchester is leaving his wife Betsy for her secretary. And it is tru that he slept with his daughter's bridesmaid. And he gave all that money to preserve the "sanctity of marriage"? Do we need to make adultery and divorce illegal for all 'straight' people? MY family is/was close to the manchesters.


  • Name: Elisa Clay
    Date posted: 2008-10-17 12:30 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    Doug Manchester is married with children. On the day of his daughter's wedding he was caught soliciting adultry to a bridesmaid. He was not allowed to attend his daughter's wedding, but he remains with his devoted wife. This is the type of marriage Doug is trying to protect. Doug is my father's cousin.


  • Name: Elisa Clay
    Date posted: 2008-10-17 12:29 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    Doug Manchester is married with children. On the day of his daughter's wedding he was caught soliciting adultry to a bridesmaid. He was not allowed to attend his daughter's wedding, but he remains with his devoted wife. This is the type of marriage Doug is trying to protect. Doug is my father's cousin.


  • Name: Skip
    Date posted: 2008-09-11 8:24 AM
    Hometown: LA, CA

    Comment:

    Regarding boycotts, has anyone seen or set up an ACCURATE listing on the web (website, MySpace page, etc) of businesses that are known to be anti-LGBT and should be boycotted? This business would be a good first listing !!!


  • Name: SayNoToH8
    Date posted: 2008-09-08 10:39 PM
    Hometown: Yorba Linda

    Comment:

    What about other companies that are pro Proposition 8? Why not make a list and boycott them as well? Hardin Honda, Anaheim CA Solesbee Auto Crafts, Yorba Linda, CA Culbertson Insurance, Los Angeles, CA Robert Hales, Attorney at Law, Orange, CA All identified as large contributors to YES on 8.


  • Name: Bryan
    Date posted: 2008-07-17 3:50 PM
    Hometown: Milford, CT

    Comment:

    You're right...Hyatt Corporate should be contacted. Perhaps they can counter the donation. Here is the contact info: Hyatt Corporation 71 South Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 750-1234 telephone (312) 780-5281 facsimile global.development@corphq.hyatt.com


  • Name: Paul
    Date posted: 2008-07-17 3:39 PM
    Hometown: New Haven, CT

    Comment:

    Here's his email...let's go for it!! hlienert@manchesterfinancialgroup.com


  • Name: Mike F.
    Date posted: 2008-07-14 8:05 AM
    Hometown: Philly

    Comment:

    Does is surprise anyone that Doug still welcomes our money but not our rights? Please be very careful any time you boycott that you target the correct person or business. In this case make sure you are boycotting a Manchester-Hyatt NOT all Hyatts the Hyatt Corporation as a whole is LGBT friendly.


  • Name: David
    Date posted: 2008-07-12 8:46 AM
    Hometown: Tampa

    Comment:

    Um...Joe, honey (FtW, TX)... its a Hyatt dear. Please read a bit slower. Follow the words with your finger, if that'll help.


  • Name: Joe
    Date posted: 2008-07-11 11:53 PM
    Hometown: Fort Worth

    Comment:

    Do you really want to get your point across to Hilton? Then boycott ALL Hilton hotels. Only then will they notice. Boycotting one measly location ain't gonna get it done.


  • Name: Robert
    Date posted: 2008-07-11 10:41 PM
    Hometown: Raleigh, NC

    Comment:

    Hyatt is generally considered a pro-gay company. Too bad one of their franchises is owned by a bigot. I certainly hope they consider cutting ties with him.


  • Name: George K
    Date posted: 2008-07-11 10:10 PM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    As a Hyatt Diamond Member for the past several years, and who has stayed at this property numerous times, he won't be getting my business travel dollars again. I agree with previous poster that the "higher-ups of the Hyatt chain need to be notified and react".....


  • Name: Tom
    Date posted: 2008-07-11 4:50 PM
    Hometown: Toronto

    Comment:

    Sorry, but gay Americans will never learn. And that's why the USA is so far behind in gay rights legislation. Give 'em a little protection a bit at a time and they're satisfied. Well, it doesn't work that way. Freedom requires a commitment from everyone looking for it. Sadly, the commitment to freedom parallels most gays' commitments to relationships. The gay revolution started in the States almost 40 years ago. What happened?


  • Name: Vic A
    Date posted: 2008-07-11 4:08 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    Yes he should be boycotted, but the boycott will not work. Why?? Because there are many STUPID and RETARDED gay people who will still patronize these evil monsters, who MISuse religion as a tool to further their igeology of HATE and BIGOTRY. Just like those mentally retarded gays and lesbians who will vote for John McCain this fall, another gay-bashing bigot, these GLBT folks simply don't care or are plain dumb and STUPID with a capital S. They want to enjoy all the benefits that accrue from living their lives as gays, but when it comes to supporting the community these spineless people don't blink an eye when it comes to hurting the community as a whole!!!


  • Name: Chris Sullivan
    Date posted: 2008-07-11 2:14 PM
    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    Comment:

    Translation: He is happy to take gay money and then will use that money to attempt to effect the rites of GLBT people. He SHOULD be boycotted and since the money cannot be gotten back - that boycott should be permanent or until such time as there is a new owner of that Hyatt. The higher-ups of the HYatt chain should also be notified.


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