Gay boycott urged of 2 San Diego hotels

Same-sex marriage advocates urged travelers Thursday to boycott two hotels owned by a San Diego County businessman who gave $125,000 to a group backing a California ballot initiative to ban gay marriage.

Doug Manchester, who owns the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego and the Grand Del Mar golf resort near La Jolla, donated the money to the National Organization for Marriage in January.

Organizers of the boycott said they were publicizing Manchester's contribution now because the measure has since qualified for the November election.

San Diego's gay pride celebration is also scheduled for next week, and visitors planning to attend the event may have booked rooms at Manchester's hotels, said Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate.

"Here is this guy who is discriminating against a minority he wants to make money off of," said Karger, whose group plans to call attention to other donors to the gay marriage ban campaign.

Manchester did not immediately return a call for comment. He told a San Diego newspaper in April that he welcomes gay guests at his properties but as a Catholic believes marriage should be reserved for a man and a woman.

Karger said his group and a union that represents hotel workers in San Diego plan to march outside the Grand Hyatt on July 18. The group is thinking about taking similar action against a San Diego car dealer who gave $25,000 to the Proposition 8 campaign, he said.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9843452?nclick_check=1

:grr:

and how the hotels would suffer if said guests decided not to grace them with their presence ...

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Just fyi, we don't consider ourselves to be living a lifestyle, for future reference. You saying "good for him" sounds strangely like you support his bigotry. Why is that?

you mean you didn't CHOOSE to be part of a group where your rights are trampled on???? I know I sure did- I just LOVE the abuse!!! :sarcasm:

I missed the post before it was deleted but I can imagine the content. Would you happen to know it that specific DU member was tombstoned? They should have been... :grr:

I certainly do hope their short life here ended today.

:hi:

SO be careful if you send letters or call - she is very sweet and 100% supportive of my partner and I.

Thanks for the warning - and please urge her not to take anything personally!