April 23rd, 2008
San Diego is worth a visit. The city is charming and friendly with a world famous zoo, beautiful parks, perfect weather, and a thriving gay community. And although it is a military city that leans Republican, they are often of the pro-gay variety and the city is very supportive of its gay residents.
However, not everyone will make you welcome. For example, much of the funding for the anti-gay marriage amendment in California came from San Diego.
Among the major donors to Protect Marriage are a group of San Diego County businessmen. Developer Doug Manchester alone has contributed $125,000 prompting gays to urge a boycott of his properties. Manchester owns the Manchester Grand Hyatt and the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina.
Mission Valley developer Terry Caster has donated $162,500, Carlsbad car dealer Robert Hoehn gave $25,000, and La Jolla businessman Roger Benson has given $50,000, according to state records.
Now these businessmen are entitled to their opinions and to seek the advancement of their political goals, even if they are designed to harm gay men and women. And we are entitled to avoid giving them a single cent, if possible.
So if you live in San Diego, or are planning a visit, you may wish to avoid patronizing any of the following businesses.
The Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
The San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina
The Grand Del Mar
Whitetail Club & Resort
A1 Self Storage (throughout California)
Caster Center and Stadium Park
Hoehn Mercedes
Hoehn Porsche
Hoehn Audi
Hoehn Infinity
Hoehn Acura
Hoehn Honda
Roger Benson appears to be retired and I am unable to identify his investment or ownership in any business that might be impacted by my spending decisions.
Some activists in San Diego are considering calling for a boycott of the above listed businesses. Complicating matters is that some of the businesses have a national reputation for working with the community. Hyatt, for example, is proud of their perfect score by HRC.
But some are not waiting for an official boycott. GLAAD has already pulled from an event at Manchester’s hotel.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced that it has withdrawn from a “Pride Rocks” event scheduled for the summer at the Hyatt owned by Doug Manchester. The event celebrates gay pride.
The president of the gay and lesbian alliance , Neil Giuliano, said in a news release that Manchester’s decision to fund an initiative that would “hurt loving, committed gay couples makes it impossible for us” to take part in an event that promotes his hotel.
So if you are considering a visit to one of the most beautiful cities in California, by all means please come. Just put some thought into where your money goes while you’re there.
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cowboy
April 23rd, 2008
I just got back from SoCal two weeks ago. Admittedly it was warmer than where I spend my winters but it was hardly sunny. Please tell me if the Marriott on Coronado Island is part of the same Doug Manchester owned property? I’ll use my Marriott points elsewhere if it is.
But, let’s see if boycotting really works. Utah’s Larry H. Miller businesses has not hurt since we boycotted his establishments after his callous remarks about gays and his abrupt withdrawal from showing Brokeback Mountain in his mega-movie-theater complexes. In fact, it brought publicity to LHM and that meant free advertising…the opposite effect of a boycott.
And, I will still not buy a vehicle from LHM in spite of his multi-million-dollar donation to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. But, I doubt his business ventures are even noticing a negative little blip on the profit/loss spreadsheets since the call for boycotting his establishments. It takes a whole lot more than shrill, whiny little voices to make a boycott work.
San Diego Guy
June 27th, 2010
The funny thing about all of this is that I have heard that Roger Benson’s son Greg is gay. This is unconfirmed, but I know someone that states they were with him.
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