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November 20, 2008

San Diego Hotel Owner in Hot Water With Gays, Unions

San Diego's glamorous Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel has seen better days. The hotel, owned by local magnate Douglas Manchester, is being boycotted for the second time in six months.

The anti–Proposition 8 group Californians Against Hate launched the first boycott (which is still in effect) against Manchester's properties in July, when news of his $124,000 donation to the antigay Yes on 8 ballot initiative became public. Now a new, separate boycott is looming.

Manchester has again caught the ire of gays for his donation (this time an LGBT group affiliated with labor issues); local unions and Hyatt employees, for what they claim are unfair labor practices at his hotel; and 300 members of the National Communication Association -- an association of collegiate speakers -- who object to their national convention being held at the contentious Hyatt.

The second boycott will be announced officially Friday at 10 a.m. at a press conference in front of the hotel. Speakers will include San Diego city councilman Todd Gloria, local gay rights advocate Nicole Murray Ramirez, Carlos Marquez of the organization Pride at work, Hyatt housekeeping supervisor Lorena Gonzalez, and members of the NCA.

In a press release it was noted that the boycott is intended to highlight the deep connections between labor struggles and the gay rights movement.

After hearing of the boycott by gays and union leaders, some NCA members asked their group to relocate their meeting from the Hyatt, but NCA refused. In response, members supportive of the boycott organized an "UNconvention" at alternative sites in San Diego.

"Since Prop. 8 passed it's become clear that we have to stand up to those who would criminalize our relationships," says Dana Cloud, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and an NCA member participating in the boycott. "I'm supporting the boycott because in our country we're forced to feel like second-class citizens. I'm also part of this because of the participation of the unions. The solidarity between the labor movement and the gay rights groups is unprecedented… It demonstrates that working people need the benefits and rights that marriage allows." (Neal Broverman, The Advocate) 

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Joey
    Date posted: 2008-11-23 3:31 PM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    It is great to see the bonding of actions but it is after the fact and not before.... Ca has a diverse alternate lifestyle population and did these folks get off their butts to register to vote in order to then vote NO on Prop 8 ?? If folks did, this would not be a mess again, the second time around !! After the fact is a little late and now a great deal of effots, money and political support needs to be had in order to turn this mess around again ! Wake up folks.......you need to be heard at the polls.....


  • Name: Jeffrey
    Date posted: 2008-11-20 10:53 PM
    Hometown: Mount Vernon

    Comment:

    J.T., Have you considered extending that to all Hyatts, and making their corporate offices clearly aware of the reason for your decision?


  • Name: Christian
    Date posted: 2008-11-20 8:30 PM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    I wish this were done more often. Hotel owners across the country are suffering more than at any other time in history. Hotel and REIT stock prices are in the gutter plus revenue is suffering. I’m sure if we take a peek behind other hotels and business we could find other owners on boards and organizations who support discrimination. In an industry that employees such a high percentage of Gay and Lesbians and an industry that is now fighting for those valuable niche gay traveling dollars and dispensable income- it would be foolish to stay at a hotel that discriminates. So many other hotels would love and need the business badly during this financial crisis.


  • Name: Jerry
    Date posted: 2008-11-20 2:39 PM
    Hometown: Dallas

    Comment:

    J.T,my hat is off to you. I would like to thank you for your efforts in this. We do need to hit them where it hurts. Keep up the good work.


  • Name: Ted Hayes
    Date posted: 2008-11-20 2:16 PM
    Hometown: Stone Ridge, NY

    Comment:

    Hooray for you and your company, J.T.!!


  • Name: Brian
    Date posted: 2008-11-20 2:13 PM
    Hometown: Anaheim

    Comment:

    Thank you so much J.T.! We must all do what we can and stand united. It's just great that you can do this. And I love that the unions are also supporting us. Change is possible and change is coming.


  • Name: J.T.
    Date posted: 2008-11-20 1:29 PM
    Hometown: Livermore, CA

    Comment:

    I am an Event Manager for a large software company. I called my Hyatt sales rep and told her we would not do ANY business with the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel. I sent out a Request for Proposal to a bunch of hotel for our annual sales conference, we are considering San Diego. I want the Hyatt to know that they are losing business because of Doug Manchester actions. My event cost around 1.2 million in rooms and food & beverages alone. Hyatt is not getting a dime. Hit them where it hurts


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