June 13th, 2012
It will be interesting to see exactly how this is taken by, say, the half dozen people who make up One Million Moms or by the National Organization for Marriage (but not yours). Marriott International wants you to consider them when it comes time to plan your wedding. And they are doing so in not-coy or ambiguous terms.
On their website on a page titled “gay-wedding-venues“:
Weddings and Civil Ceremonies
Marriott hotels provide ideal venues for ceremonies honoring you and your partner. With luxurious hotels and stunning resorts all around the world, we offer the perfect settings and Planning Services for your most special day.
Event Planners
Marriott event planners and luxurious venues work hard behind the scenes so you can shine in the limelight. We’re waiting with the welcome, the amenities, the catering, and the rest of the celebration you and your cast of stars deserves.
Considering that a number of big businesses have recently become increasingly vocal in support, this might not be very remarkable… if Bill Marriott were not the Chairman of the Board, if the Marriott family (which owns about a fifth of the stock) was not Mormon, and if Mitt Romney (who is named after Willard Marriott) had not at one point been on the Board of Directors.
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Blake
June 13th, 2012
Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but it cooks my grits when they make a distinction. I got married not gay married.
Good to hear all the same.
Henri
June 13th, 2012
Money talks. Nobody walks.
Lucrece
June 13th, 2012
Do the Marriott owners still provide their earnings in tithes to the LDS? You might get your wedding, but what you paid for it might be funneled into an organization that makes sure other people can’t enjoy the same event you do.
Lucrece
June 13th, 2012
If what you pay for those ceremonies goes in tithes to the LDS, you’re still funneling your money to the expense of fellow gay people harmed by the LDS’s campaigns.
Charles
June 13th, 2012
“If what you pay for those ceremonies goes in tithes to the LDS, you’re still funneling your money to the expense of fellow gay people harmed by the LDS’s campaigns”. – Lucrece
So what. I’m curious how Mormons are going to address this turn of events.
Lucrece
June 13th, 2012
“So what?” Would you pay for services to an organization knowing their board members are giving part of that profit to NOM?
If tithes are going to the LDS, this is just a PR stunt.
MattNYC
June 13th, 2012
Lucrece,
I am struggling with this now regarding JC Penney. My partner has now deemed that all of my new clothes will come from there (he’s married to Le Republique Du Banana).
The Progressive Magazine recently noted that–a la Target–JCP’s PAC has generously funded some of the most anti-gay politicians in America, including the House drafter of the marriage Amendment.
MattNYC
June 13th, 2012
Also, see “Coors”
TomTallis
June 13th, 2012
When the Marriott family stops tithing to the Mormon cult and/or the Mormon cult stops trying to destroy the lives of gay and lesbian couples, then, and only then, will I consider patronizing their hotels.
As for now, they’re good for using the rest room when we’re on the road.
Mark F.
June 13th, 2012
I guess nobody should do business with anyone who has Mormon shareholders then, right?
There is a distinction between official company policy and what individual shareholders do with their profits, isn’t there?
Lucrece
June 13th, 2012
It’s an issue of conscience. If you want to give money to mormon shareholders that tithe their church, feel free. But it still remains an indirect donation to the LDS.
castaway
June 13th, 2012
Honestly, I wouldn’t trust anything connected to anything Mormon before this election. They have proven to be sneeky, organized, working under the surface to get “things” done to get their way. After the election and Obama wins, if they have the same attitude I would be more likely to believe it.
castaway
June 13th, 2012
Oh yes, I forgot to mention they have butt-loads of CA$H. As we all know, now it’s all about which side has the most money.
Soren456
June 13th, 2012
I can’t control what people do with the profit they make from my spending. But I can avoid spending with them if I know beforehand that part of the profit may be used against me. That seems to be the case here.
TomTallis
June 13th, 2012
@Mark F – Yes, I wound not knowingly patronize any business that had Mormon shareholders. I have no intention of paying for my own opression.
wdcguy
June 14th, 2012
It’s frustrating for the many LGBT employees at Marriott when people cannot get the separation between the Marriott family’s personal affiliation with the Mormom church and our welcoming and supporting company. The launch of this unprecedented campaign is meant, in part, to try and dispel the myth that Marriott–the company is Mormon and thus secretly against us (stabbing us in the back) behind the scenes. That simply is not true. We have a rich welcoming culture within our company that translates to an honest and long-standing support for equality. Some companies may just provide lip service around things LGBT related. Marriott means it. So bookmark/favorite http://marriott.com/pride and throw your support behind a truly LBGT-welcoming lodging company.
jpeckjr
June 14th, 2012
Stop it with the Marriott is a “Mormon company.” Marriott is a publicly traded company owned by thousands of stockholders. It is not owned by the Mormon church. Employment there is not limited to members of the Mormon church. I do not work there, but am aware that, as an employer, they have an excellent record with regard to LGBT inclusion.
No one should ever be surprised when a profit-motivated company decides it can make some money off the LGBT demographic. I would say it is savvy business strategy.
cowboy
June 14th, 2012
Thank you wdcguy.
I applaud this effort by Marriott Hotels.
(The one time the San Diego Marriott was the host hotel for the gay rodeo was an especially nice time for me.)
jpeckjr
June 14th, 2012
Marriott is a corporate partner with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. In fairness, Hyatt, W, Hilton, Carlson, Renaissance, Caesars, Starwood, Ramada, Kimpton, and Wyndham are also corporate partners or supporters of NGLCC.
Marriott is listed at HRC and NGLCC as a corporate supporter of ENDA.
I have no interest in Marriott personally — neither an employee nor a stockholder, and almost never stay in their hotels. Just don’t think a business that is supportive of LGBT folks should be condemned because of the religion of it’s founders.
customartist
June 14th, 2012
This is nothing but BS Propganda in an election year.
TYhe Money earned from any Gay Events will only go into the pockets of our opposition.
The Republican Party Plank is to oppose Marriage Equality.
If Marriott wants to put its money where its mouth is, then they will oppose the Republican Party on this issue,… but they haven’t, and they won’t.
Mark F.
June 14th, 2012
You can be pretty sure that any corporation has some shareholders who belong to anti-gay churches.So Tom, I think you have to move to the mountains and live off the land.
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