Despite pleas
from several activists and public figures not to do
so, former president Bill Clinton crossed a picket line of
about 200 people to deliver a speech on Sunday in San Diego. He
still, however, stood behind his opposition to
California's Proposition 8.
Clinton spokeswoman
Laura Graham wrote a letter to the hotel workers' labor
group Unite Here! saying that the former president
attempted to move the venue of the speech, according to
TheSan Diego Union-Tribune.
Prop. 8 opponents and labor leaders had launched a boycott of
the Manchester Grand Hyatt due to its owner's support for
the anti-same-sex marriage measure and reports that its
employees have heavier workloads than those at other area
hotels.
"Unfortunately the
hosting organization responded that they were unable to do so,
and President Clinton believes he should honor his contractual
obligation," she wrote.
The letter added that
he encourages the repeal of Proposition 8. "Not only was
[President Clinton] a big opponent of California's Proposition
8, but now supports its reversal."
Clinton spoke at the
International Franchise Association conference at the
Manchester Grand Hyatt, owned by Proposition 8 supporter Doug
Manchester. The hotel magnate donated $125,000 to the campaign
to end marriage equality in California.
In June, Clinton backed
away from an engagement to speak at a University of California,
Los Angeles, graduation ceremony when union officials urged him
to support them in a labor dispute against university
administration. (Michelle Garcia, Advocate.com)
