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§ Chris Butcher reports that the owner of the Manchester Grand Hyatt — a fellow name of Doug Manchester, believe it or not — has made political contributions that supporters of gay marriage will find odious:

A $125,000 donation in support of an anti-gay marriage initiative by a San Diego hotelier has drawn the ire of gay and lesbian activists and local labor unions who are now calling for a boycott.

Organizers held a news conference in front of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, near Seaport Village, on Thursday. A coalition of LGBT community leaders and the labor movement spoke out against Doug Manchester, who contributed a donation in support of Proposition 8, which would allow only men and women to marry in the state of California. The group opposes the ballot measure because it threatens the recent state Supreme Court decision that allows marriage between men and women.


Butcher suggests a hotel boycott is impossible because of the time factor, but that not paying for drinks should be an option. The Beat supports this, and suggests that, in fact, the Hyatt bar is so crowded and the bartenders so slow that getting more than one drink in any one evening is pretty much impossible, that the simple expedient of buying liquor at Ralph’s and secreting it in either a) a flask or b)a Arrowhead spring water bottle be used and EVERYONE will be happy.

1 COMMENT

  1. Doug (or “Papa” as he prefers to be called, no kidding) Manchester is a big cheese around here (San Diego) and is known to be something of a piece of work. This isn’t very surprising, unfortunately.

    Happily, there are plenty of other places to drink around the Convention center.

  2. I care, Matt. I am sure that many of us in the comics community who support LGBT rights and have been known to tipple at the Hyatt will want to know this news. Thanks for reporting it, Heidi.

  3. I’m one of those in the comics community who supports LGBT rights. I won’t be in San Diego this year, but I’ve been to the Hyatt a few times for drinks. I’d love to find a new (less crowded) place to hang out — and now Heidi has given me another more important reason to not go there.

  4. “Don’t buy drinks at their bar because their bar sucks anyway” is not protesting.

    Rebooking is protesting. Picketing when there are sure to be hundreds of people around is protesting. Stamping all your money, as suggested, is protesting.

    THIS is protesting.

    Here are your supplies. Get to it!

  5. This makes me really unhappy, as I know I’ve dropped money there in the past.

    Pfeh.

    Of course, I won’t be at Comic Con this year anyway. So no one gets my money!* Nyah!

    (*except of course, for the fine people of Hillsdale, NY, at the music festival I’m attending instead…)

  6. That’s not the only boycott going on in San Diego. James Hartline, publisher of the California Christian News, said he will be encouraging his 20,000 readers to withhold tips from hotel and restaurant workers in San Diego represented by Unite Here Local 30 because they are siding with gay and lesbian civil rights activists. Not just the ones working at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, but allhotel and restaurant workers in the San Diego area. This guy is planning on encouraging his readers not to tip any waitstaff in San Diego.

    Link

  7. I’m glad I’ve never spent a dime there. And it’s not a one-sided political view, if by one-side you mean “liberal side only.”

  8. Top ten comics-culture protest strategies:

    1. Drinking, just not enjoying it as much as in previous years.
    2. Not tipping. (Grandfathered in from previous years’ protest against tipping.)
    3. Drinking nothing but brightly colored drinks like Cape Codders.
    4. Drinking $11 well drinks instead of $21 dollar label drinks.
    5. As you pay saying, “All this money? It comes from a supporter of LGBT rights. Consider this an education, sir!” to bored hotel employee ignoring you.
    6. Re-Drawing Andrew Hamilton on all $20 bills to look like Elton John.
    7. Working your love for Fun Home into every conversation.
    8. Sneaking in toads to furtively lick between rounds.
    9. “They may have screwed over some gay people a few days ago, but it’s hardly the same hotel company today.”
    10. Signing unfair contract with Platinum anyway.

  9. Yeah, I’m firmly in the camp of “I care about this issue” too, so thanks for reporting it. It’s like knowing that the people who own Curves are anti-choice funders, or that Urban Outfitters is run by a very wealthy Conservative. Knowing that helps me make choices about where my money goes and, in a capitalist society, that actually matters.

  10. You know this would all just go away if we passed a law allowing people to declare their gender at DMV. Marriage ‘only between a man and a woman’? Fine. Whip out the ole driver’s license and prove you’re one or the other regardless of your equipment.

  11. We need a good alternate bar. I always hated the crappy Hyatt anyway. Now I feel *really* bad for ever spending money at it.

    I fear people’s laziness however.

  12. For all the boycotters, remember it’s only going to hurt the bartenders and waitstaff, who really have nothing to do with how the owner donates his money.

    I think what he is doing is gross, obviously. But I don’t believe in hurting innocent people who live off their tips.

  13. I understand what you’re saying, Brian, but the alternative is non-action, right? So in order to make sure the service staff gets its tips, we have to ultimately put money into the pocket a man who uses it for “gross” political purposes? In capitalism, alas, we vote with our dollars.

    I know. Everyone just bring your own booze to the Hyatt and tip the wait staff for looking the other way.

  14. I don’t buy the idea that the only two options are 1. do nothing or 2. take it out on the service staff. I’m sure if someone wants to register their displeasure at what this guy is doing, they can think of something more effective.

    bri

  15. Pia – Brilliant!

    Rick – Thanks for the info! I’ll be tipping extra to compensate.

    Jennifer – Totally. Get a look at what drinks they offer, and bring your own bottles of the same beer, and get one of their drink glasses and fill it in your room.

    This of course is primarily for ppl who can’t avoid going there in some capacity, like those of us booked there. (Rebook? you’re effing joking, right? There might be a cardboard box in Tijuana available)

    I’ve been trying to get the drinkups out of the Hyatt for years, but I have like, 2 loyal followers. If you want to drag people away, some big names need to make loud announcements of where else they’ll be going. And warn those destinations appropriately…

  16. Or, if you feel that strongly about the issue, take the money you would have spent on drinks at the hotel and donate it to Equality California, which is attempting to defeat the anti-gay marriage proposition.

    Boycotting a bar or hotel on one weekend out of the year – an especially busy weekend at that with the hotel at 100% capacity – is not likely to have much of an effect to the owner’s bottom line, anyway.

  17. I’ll second the “don’t hurt the waitstaff” thought.

    The money from bar tabs is a drop in the bucket to the owner but the tips are cash in the pocket to the workers there. Fact is this blog is already raising more awareness by discussing it now than not drinking at the Hyatt will do.

    Organize a picket and alert the media though. That would grab attention without harming local commerce. Have people in costumes carrying signs and it’ll get on the news.

    Besides, Marriott was founded by Mormons who do not support gay marriage either. And let’s not forget:

    “In 2005, Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club International comprised two of the 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President George W. Bush.”

  18. >>Is that the bar that closes at 2 am while 200 people are waiting at the bar?
    Serves them right if they’re getting boycot!>>>>

    i’m pretty sure that’s california law.

  19. I’m not a big fan of punishing a business for the political beliefs of its owner. It’s not like he’s discriminating in the way he runs his business.

    That being said, this bar sounds like it sucks anyway, so rock on. And at least these boycotters aren’t taking it out on the waitstaff.

  20. I’ve been thinking about what Brian Wood said. I have an idea. This will require the cooperation of maybe a couple of dozen people, and unfortunately I’m not going to SDCC this year, but my idea is this:

    Stage a mock gay wedding at the Hyatt Bar. Between cosplayers dressed as Batman and Nightwing. Or something similar. Alert the media.

  21. I would agree with Brian’s warning, but I will note that the staff at the Hyatt is often surly and bad-tempered. I won’t get into the time I got thrown out of the Top of the Hyatt for being “underaged,” but I’ll never forget the time the bartender asked two English guys for ID and when presented with passports told them they had to show driver’s licenses…granted dealing with the drunken public is not the best job in the world, but some enjoy it mroe than others. I have a lot of beefs with the hyatt – once they charged me for a room that had alreayd been paid for and dragged out the “investigation” for so long I had to give up.

    I was unaware the Manchester was owned by some homophobe megalomaniac, but that would explain why the staff there has such a bad attitude much of the time.

  22. I’m a little unclear as to the point of a protest. I’m willing to bet that Doug Manchester’s support of Proposition 8 isn’t based on economical or business reasons. So showing up with signs to say you disagree with him, or refusing to buy drinks from his bar because you disagree with him, isn’t going to change his mind. If he’s like me, having a group of people tell him who he can donate his personal money to will only make him write a bigger check to prove he can’t be bullied. Also, it’s not like he doesn’t know that there are people who vehemently disagree with him on this issue. So you’re not going to be giving him any new information there. If your protest won’t change his mind or tell him something he doesn’t already know, why do it? It seems like masturbatory activism, the only person who feels good and gets anything out of it is you.

    My question is serious, even if my tone is slightly flippant. What you would consider a successful result for your protest? Would a protest actually produce that result? I have a feeling regardless of your answer to question 1, in this situation, your answer to question 2 is always going to be no.
    But I’m willing to be corrected if I’m wrong.

  23. From Travelocity:
    http://gaytravel.travelocity.com/hotel/10015415-10204453O.html?ses=94feb714fbc8be8064a0142e0c73239e

    4/5 stars.

    From bsr.org…
    “Hyatt
    One of the biggest hotel operators in the United States, Hyatt has had domestic-partner benefits for same- and opposite-sex partners since 1997, as well as a written policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation. The company offers the same benefits to heterosexual couples and same-sex couples, including bereavement leave, relocation expenses, and the right to designate a partner as a pension plan beneficiary. Domestic partners also can receive Hyatt’s reduced employee rates for hotel stays.”

  24. A protest or picket is not supposed to reach the owner. The purpose of such “masturbatory activism” is to raise awareness in the public of where the man donates “his personal money”. This allows the public at large to decide if they want to increase his money pile now that they know he pays for hate.

  25. “but I will note that the staff at the Hyatt is often surly and bad-tempered”

    if so, then they deserve a bad tip, or no tip. direct cause and effect in this case.

    b

  26. Agro23, it also increases the awareness of those who agree with him and therefore are more inclined to send business his way as a show of solidarity. Seems like a double edged sword. It appears that you believe a significant majority of the population would agree with your position on the issue. I don’t know what the opinion polls for Proposition 8 show. Do the majority of Califorians oppose it?

  27. I’d say bring your own booze but tip the bar help, plus wear your Gay Pride t-shirts. I’m sure some artists won’t mind whipping up some new custom t-shirts.

    I’m concerned that people would want to change the constitution (state or otherwise) to take rights away from a particular group of citizens. Whether they be gay, black, latin, or blue-eyes…that is really disturbing. Laws are one thing, but modifications to a constitution should be held to a greater standard.

  28. If we refused to give money to every corporation run by a bigoted asshole, we’d still be living in caves.

    Still, if the entire industry wants to decide, en masse, to move the post-show drinkups to a more socially responsible multinational corporate chain hotel, that’s fine by me.

  29. I like Pia Guerra’s and Scott Beiser’s suggestions. I agree with Brian Wood that the service staff shouldn’t be penalized for the actions of their boss. However, you should feel free not to tip them if they’re surly as they are reported to have been.

    Don’t give the hotel any more money that it’s already getting. Isn’t that where the “hospitality suite” is? Petition Comic-Con to relocate it, if not in time for this year’s convention, but for all Comic-Cons henceforth. Make shirts that say “Gays and Lesbians do it at the Hyatt”, sell them, and donate the money to gay rights groups.

    Protest demonstrations are meant to inform passers-by. Actual protests (such as voting with your wallets) hit them where it hurts. If that guy has that much money to donate to charity, then he will likely not be hurt much by either demonstrative or monetary protests. Shouldn’t stop anyone from doing it, though.

    What’s more important: boycotting a man’s business due to his personal politics or supporting a hotel chain which seems to take good care of its gay and lesbian employees?

  30. Unbelievable how one political stance can traditionally ruin years of debauchery and bar hopping pillaging.

    I should send the Deposit Man after Manchester’s ass.

    The top of the Hyatt was losing it’s luster anyway – all you see there are big tipping Fortune 500 businessmen arm in arm with their $ 5,000 a hour call girls these days.

    ~

    Coat
    Coat

  31. RE Hyatt staff: If you ever get the chance to leave a tip! Last year I literally begged for a glass of water after last call and was told noway, no how. Luckily Jim Lee was able to pull strings and get me a glass.

    I guess I just really really have bad luck with people at the Hyatt! Except for the people who set up that outside bar years ago. They were okay.

  32. >>Is that the bar that closes at 2 am while 200 people are waiting at the bar?
    Serves them right if they’re getting boycot!>>>>

    i’m pretty sure that’s california law.>>>>>>>

    Then California should be boycotted!

  33. Brian, I love your kind heart, but you’re being loopy. You’re just making a choice; you’re not withholding anything from the wait staff simply by not doing business there.

    Why should the wait staff at the Marriott suffer for your not tipping them because people have always gone to the Hyatt? What did they do wrong?

    There are good people that work everywhere you choose not to do business!

  34. I’ve yet to have a positive experience ordering drinks at the Hyatt. Never has ordering a vodka-tonic come across as more of an imposition on bartenders.

    And yes, love the idea, Pia! Anyone know where to track down drag queens in the convention area?

  35. I think this takes al ot of courage. The homosexual lobby is a bunch of whining bullies. Californians don’t want gay marriage. The courts force it…and the liberals act like everyone is for it. Well, we aren’t for it and I’m glad this guy has the balls to stand up and try and stop the facist takeover of our state.

  36. Try to be a little socially active and it gets all… complicated. :) True. I doubt a boycott/protest will do much. People with lots of money are usually very good at keeping it, and it’s virtually impossible to hurt their pocketbook. I imagine the Hyatt will still be packed during Comic-Con. HOWEVER, even if Doug Manchester never knew (or cared) that I was boycotting him, it strengthens my own resolve on the issue — and that’s worth something. It becomes a point of conversation, and there’s a value to that as well.

  37. This makes me want to visit the Hyatt more often. Good for him for sticking to his beliefs in a state where even the slightest deviation from the left causes idiots to rise up and call for a boycott. It’s his money, and he has every right to donate to whichever political organization or movement he wants to. This mob mentality that equates “not supporting gay marriage” to “hating gay people” really gets on my nerves. You people should be ashamed of yourselves.

  38. This makes me want to visit the Hyatt more often. Good for him for sticking to his beliefs in a state where even the slightest deviation from the left causes idiots to rise up and call for a boycott. It’s his money, and he has every right to donate to whichever political organization or movement he wants to. This mob mentality that equates “not supporting gay marriage” to “hating gay people” really gets on my nerves. You people should be ashamed of yourselves.

  39. “It’s his money, and he has every right to donate to whichever political organization or movement he wants to.”

    Similarly, would-be patrons of the Hyatt have every right not to patronize whatever hotel or hotel bar they want to. I’m surprised I have to explain this.

  40. Tom, I was speaking mostly to the people who indicated they would have been spending money at the Hyatt but now are going elsewhere in response to this, like they are doling out some kind of punishment. Certainly you are right in any other case, though.

    b

  41. Startling contrary point. Exaggeration and name calling. Straw man (no one told him how to spend his money). Exaggeration (besides, democracy is based on the will of the ‘mob’). Admonishment. Check check check check.

    Your score is: neocon.

    Sorry but denying a basic human right to one set of people based on a genetic difference is considered hatred these days. It’s certainly bigotry of the worst sort.

    And if it gets on your nerves that the majority of Californians DO believe in gay marriage and equate opposition to such as hatred then you are free to boycott.

    . . .

    Meanwhile, back to where the drinks will be…Maybe we should find a pub or club. Or go to the Hard Rock (except Saturday when they’re having that annoying Hollywood party).

  42. I’m with Brian on this. Boycotting only hurts the wait staff… and at our DRINK UP last year, the waiters and waitresses were nothing short of FANTASTIC.

    That said, the BOOM! DRINK UP is now the BOOM! DRINK UP/GAY PRIDE PARTY!

    Everybody, come, wave your freak flag high, tip the waiters and I will be taking shots of the party and send the pictures directly to the proprietor to let him know exactly who his customers are and how much money he looks to lose in the future.

    Best,

    Chip
    BOOM!

  43. Brian, I’ve been on the comics Internet since 1994, and I’m pretty certain you’re not allowed to respond like that. Please rewrite with insults.

    Everybody poop at the Hyatt and don’t flush, but only in the toilets that Mr. Manchester cleans himself.

  44. If someone lets me sleep on their floor and brings me recordings of a few select panels, I’ll gladly show up at the Hyatt bar and, as a straight man, show my support by kissing any willing men. Is that a good protest?

  45. Wow talk about a pack mentality. This is right up there with freedom fries lol. That sent shockwaves through the French economy right? This is so lame, I hope you follow your own policies for all companies that have donated to some cause that doesnt align with liberalism. You guys better be consistent.

    Not everyone wants to see gay marraige.

    Now here comes the pack to drown out the dissenters…

  46. And also, turning this into a gay pride parade is a sure fire way to drive away the kids and families. So if you want them gone then move along with your selfish cause. Its supposed to be a comic book convention, not a far left wing party.

  47. I agree with Matt that any kind of visual protest at the Hyatt will drive families away from the con (especially if they are staying at the Hyatt). It won’t do anything at all to the Hyatt or Mr. Manchester, but it will serve as yet another setback that will drive kids away from comic-con. The heart of comic books should always be kids, and when parents see things like this it can make them want to stay away from the con. The only thing you guys would be hurting by a visual protest would be comic-con.

  48. The only reason gay rights is considered a “left wing” issue is the “right” are so snugly shoved up the evangelical Christian’s voting bloc they are considered an organ.

    Chip, rock on.

  49. Matt: “Pack mentality” indeed. Sorry but if majority rule works for the right it works for the left too. If more of us want gay marriage–you know, like the civilized people–then that’s what will happen. Cope with it.

    And so what if anything scares “kids and families” away? You act like that’s a bad thing. Anything that reduces the size of Con is cool in my book.
    I’m tired of barking my shins on freaking strollers anyway. Comics are for 40-year old nerds not drooling kids with impatient bedraggled parents. And I’d rather not leave the show with a head cold because some snotty brat wasn’t home-schooled in hygiene and never learned to cover their mouth before they spray their diseased wet coughs into the aisles.

    (I just wish we could scare Hollywood away too.)

  50. I’m glad that Scott Allie posted this link on his MySpace. There’s still time to pack a flask! (It might inspire a start to the nightlife around noon, though…)

    Thanks for posting this, Heidi.

  51. Argo23, your rhetoric is dangerously close to ‘might makes right’ and ‘legal means moral’. If the polls are wrong and Proposition 8 passes, will you quietly accept the will of the majority? If Proposition 8 does pass does that make gay marriage immoral?

    Being civilized or loving has nothing to do with a person’s acceptance of gay marriage. Honest people of good conscience can disagree on this issue. Demonizing those that disagree with you doesn’t promote dialogue on any issue or in any arena. Truth is your never going to convince
    everyone that gay marriage should be legal. But you can gain the respect of those who disagree with you and that respect means they see you as human not an agenda. When your opponent sees you as a human, then suddenly you find out their willing to listen to you and more importantly to
    consider what you’re saying.

    In what you’ve posted here, I’ve seen you spew as much bitterness as hatred as those you claim to be ‘uncivilized’ and ‘bigoted’.

  52. “Truth is your [sic] never going to convince everyone that gay marriage should be legal.”

    Similarly, there are many people who were unconvinced that African Americans should be allowed to vote. They were wrong, too.

  53. The funny thing is I haven’t been to the Hyatt in three years but now I’ll have to go to see the crowds first-hand.

    I suppose I’ll have to adopt a weird, potentially-insulting stereotype-celebratory compensating strategy of the kind suggested here: have a flask of Maddog 20/20 shipped in from Wrigleyville but still tip the waiters with Prism Booth Dollars I force them to pull free from the elastic holding up my assless chaps. Or something.

    Comics is weird.

  54. This is the city of San Diego and there are plenty of other places to drink…it is ok to venture out of sight of the Convention Center….

  55. the thing about service at the hyatt being bad, and ive witnessed it too over the years, is just the sheer stupidity of the management because they UNDERSTAFF. how often have we seen both bars fully packed and only a few bartenders behind there? managers are jumping back there to help, etc. it’s the biggest event in san diego every year, surely they can have some preparation. as a bartender in NYC for 14 years, i know the feeling of a packed house and being understaffed. it sucks because you want to help people and make money, but the volume is overwhelming and it causes frustrations. let’s see anyone try to keep a smile when hundreds are just looking at you and waiting to be noticed so they can order. im not excusing it by any means, but it is tough.

    as for changing to the marriot, well, that bar is much smaller. (the lobby bar). i know they have other bars in there, but havent explored them in the past. you think the hyatt is overwhelmed w/ 2 lobby bars and one up top, i wonder how the marriot will handle it.

    still, im glad heidi brought this to our attention. ive always packed a flask, ordered a coke, tipped heavily and drank away! :)

  56. Arguing that boycotting a business hurts the employees and that makes it futile or wrong is ludicrous. I suppose those negroes shouldn’t have taken up space at the Woolworth’s lunch counter. After all, those poor waitresses surely lost a lot of tips from the white people. And the poor drivers during the Montgomery bus boycotts! Sometimes positive change takes action which cause short term pain to people who are just working for living, and while it’s too bad I also have to weigh that one weekend’s loss of tips with the people who can’t visit their partner in the hospital or will their life savings to their unmarried partner, etc. because of some hateful bigots and small-minded prudes who think it’s their concern what consenting adults do in their private lives.

    Also, if prominent business people want to engage in their right to participate in political donations and activity then they also have to accept that the people who disagree with them will do the same. And yes, sometimes other businesses are just as bad but you pick your battles- just make sure you make it known you are fighting them and for what reason. Hell, while all these pros are in San Diego maybe they should plan a benefit comic to support the gay marriage effort in California!

  57. If your going to make a difference, make a difference. Boycotting the bar, which in practise at best would amount to a partial boycott, or slump in sales is not going to hurt the owner of the hotal chain. However, it’s going to hurt the working class people who survive off their tips, many of whom may be banking on big events like comic con to pay off bills or keep their head above water.

    My mother-in-law was a hotel waitress for years and she busted her ass as a single mom to put food on the plates of her two kids. If we were talking about salaried employees who get a steady check either way I’d be right on board, but this tactic wouldn’t amount to anything more than working class men and women bring less money home in their pocket in an already challenging economy.

    How about this, order a soda and tip the waiter like it was a $22 martini.

  58. Hello, everyone read what Jimmy said above.

    Honestly, I have had lots of personal problems with the Hyatt and the bar scene there is more like Pandemonium than a good time. I boycott it EVERY YEAR. So everyone bring their own supply, give the hard working single moms a $20 tip, and then kiss someone of the same sex. Then everyone will be happy.

    Although Tom’s idea of assless leather chaps also sounds good.

  59. I’m also going to offer rev duties, card carrying minster here, and I believe it can be used in Cali.

    As for the ridiculous notion that a gay pride night will scare families away, c’mon, the whole point of gay marriage is to promote stable relationships by ensuring equal coverage under the law, from consent to property sharing to custody these laws can only make families stronger. Did you know there are cases out there where relatives have seized children and property against the wishes of deceased gay family members in committed relationships? These laws protect families in the event of divorce, illness and death, give them better footing to adopt and countless other rights. Gay Pride isn’t just about drag queens and butless chaps (though yummy) it’s about working towards a society that accepts people as they are, yknow, that whole judging by the content of character thing? Families should be embracing this.

    And let’s not forget there’s a sizable chunk of the comics community who these laws directly affect. The happier we can make our community the more we can enjoy from this community.

  60. Also re: family friendliness, this is a BAR we’re talking about, after all. I doubt many parents were planning to spirit their minors in.

  61. Sorry, Eric, I noticed it, too; I even have a master’s in history so it’s pretty inexcusable. Plus I lived in Lancaster for two years! Ridiculous.

    In my defense, I was writing really quickly so I could get back to plotting the downfall of working class people.

    I am sure if we looked hard enough all the owners of all the hotels hold some political view with which we do not agree. And that they all have people working for them in some capacity who need the money. I can’t imagine anything more beside the point, but I also can’t imagine anything more Sisyphean than convincing the people that think these are relevant points otherwise.

  62. If going to SDCC for the last 20 years (I missed maybe 5 years) has taught me ANYTHING it is to celebrate the diversity of the industry and the human race in general. I find comic folks some of the most tolerate and open people and industry around. It’s why our DRINK UP is open to everyone. Which is now more relevant than before.

    I don’t understand those who aren’t tolerate – but I won’t be intolerant to them. Look forward to seeing you all at the show.

  63. Katherine,

    I’m not sure what “teh ghey” is, but my problem would be with some kind of visual demonstration at the Hyatt. The vast majority of people don’t want to see a bunch of angry nerds yelling and waving signs outside of their hotel room. Prism Comics has a booth inside the show, and they are probably looked upon by most people as any other independent publisher. There’s a huge difference between a legitimate business at a booth inside a convention center and a bunch of obnoxious protesters marching outside your hotel.

    The best way to voice your concern would be to not give the Hyatt your business, like many others have said. Protesters only make people angry, and not for the right reasons. People who see protesters waiving signs won’t care one ounce what some CEO decides to do with his money. The only thing they will get angry about is that they have to wade through a bunch of angry nerds if they want to go to their room.

    That’s what would drive families (and many other people) from the show. Just tell your friends not to go the Hyatt bar for drinks.

  64. I will also say one last thing:

    The Prop 8 is going to a vote. The best thing anyone can do, the most effective and immediate influence anyone can have is not a boycott, not a fundraiser, not a protest, not a wedding… but rather GET A CALIFORNIAN TO VOTE ON THIS.

  65. You mean GET A CALIFORNIAN TO VOTE NO ON THIS. :)

    Chris (a Local ;) Californian non-liberal who believes in the separation of marriage and state)

  66. Hmmmm. Finally a hotel worth respecting. Glad I’m stayin there. Good place really. Nice, comfy with big fluffy pillow and donate to causes they feel strong about.
    I go to alot of places that give to causes that I could care less about.( “Save the slugs”, “eat dirt save a cow”, “Shower less save more water”).

    You know..all those idiotic leftist causes. But if I like the product, why wouldnt I frequent those places. Well…cause I’m ACTUALLY tolerant while I preach it less. While others (apparently our hostest included- sadly) PREACHES it and practices it less.

    I’ll not only make a point to frequent the Hyatt MORE, but will promote it every chance I get.

    THANKS! AND HAVE GREAT CON EVERYONE.

  67. The vast majority of people don’t want to see a bunch of angry nerds yelling and waving signs outside of their hotel room

    So…this would be a protest that would annoy the Hyatt customers, possibly drive away or negatively impair Hyatt’s business, give them bad publicity and would make them uncomfortable. You’re right. God forbid people be made uncomfortable by a protest!

    I think you may have missed the point of the whole endeavor.

  68. I am in full agreement with the boycott. I wont be spending my money at the Hyatt. But if you do still go, don’t try to boycott by not tipping your server. They have nothing to do with Doug Manchesters donation, they are just making a living.

  69. Boycott? Absolutely. But don’t show up at the Hyatt with your own booze and take up space that could be taken up by paying customers – that’s not protesting, that’s just being an asshole.

  70. Ummm…Mr. Campbell, I actually think that would be a form of protesting. Just make sure to tip the servers as long as you’re taking up space from other customers and it’s copacetic and protesterrific.

  71. But if nobody knows it’s a protest, it’s not a protest.

    I think some people just want to hang out at the Hyatt bar with their friends and pros but feel guilty about it, so instead of a) really protesting or b) going to one of the dozens of much cooler bars in San Diego instead, they’ve come up with this idea so they can drink there without feeling like they’re compromising their principles.

  72. If they don’t buy any drinks there…so they aren’t supporting the ass…and they are keeping paying customers from having a spot to sit and patronize the establishment…how are they not striking some sort of blow and are only keeping themselves from feeling like they are compromising their principles (with the implication clear that you think they are eschewing principles altogether)?

  73. Well, dang… I went to the Hyatt, got pretty nicely drunk, hung out with my friends who I only get to see once a year, had a great time and met Joss Whedon.

    Does that make me (and Joss too I guess) some kind of terrible wrong person?

    If it makes it any better though, I didn’t tip. But that’s because I’m English and I just forgot :(