Workers and Gay Rights Groups to Ban together to Fight for Marriage Equality and expose ‘Hyatt Hypocrisy’

Posted on May 14, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized

Ceremonial Gay Marriage with Raymond and Byron, Featured in “13 Love Stories”

A press conference announcing the expansion of the ‘Hyatt Hypocrisy’ campaign to Long Beach Hyatt Hotel is set today in Long Beach, CA. Members of the coalition will participate in a ceremonial gay marriage ceremony, calling on Hyatt management with demands regarding marriage equality.

The Reverend Sunshine Daye, Namaste Science of Mind and Spirit Center/Grand Marshall Long Beach Gay Pride Parade; Tonia Reyes Uranga, Long Beach City Councilwoman; Mike Bonin, Co-Founder of Camp Courage, Courage Campaign; Raymond and Byron, married gay activists featured in “13 Love Stories;” and Kimberlee Woods, Exec. Director Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach are expected to attend.

LGBT rights activists, workers, and community leaders will join forces outside the Long Beach Hyatt hotel in support the ongoing fight for marriage equality. The Hyatt Hotel is owned and operated by the Hyatt Corporation, which also operates the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, owned by Doug Manchester. Manchester donated $125,000 to help put California’s Proposition 8 on the ballot last November. The Manchester Grand Hyatt has been at the forefront of the battle over same-sex marriage since leaders of San Diego’s LGBT community called a boycott of the hotel in July.

This event is co-sponsored by the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs & a Healthy Community, San Diego Equality Campaign, Courage Campaign, Equal Roots, Pride at Work and Equality California.

The coalition is not calling for a boycott of the Hyatt Hotel, but pledges to hold the Hyatt Long Beach and its owner and operator, The Hyatt Corporation, accountable for their relationship to Manchester. With this press conference and delegation, labor and gay rights activists will expand the Hyatt Hypocrisy campaign, which is in full swing in San Diego, to Hyatt’s Long Beach Hotel.