Gays Picket Bill Clinton At Boycotted San Diego Hotel

Rex Wockner reports:

About 200 GLBT activists and union activists picketed the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego on Feb. 15 as former President Bill Clinton spoke inside to the International Franchise Association. The protesters were upset that Clinton "crossed a picket line" to speak at the association's annual convention. Gays have been boycotting the hotel since last summer because owner Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to the campaign to get Proposition 8 on the November ballot. Passed by 52 percent of voters Nov. 4, Prop 8 re-banned same-sex marriage in California five months after the state Supreme court legalized it. No representative of the IFA was available to speak to media, and hotel officials said Clinton would not be available to reporters either. The officials prohibited a reporter from accessing the floor on which the convention was taking place.

According to Wockner, four activists including NAMES Project founder Cleve Jones and Courage Campaign chairman Rick Jacobs entered the hotel to attempt to deliver a 30,000 name petition asking Clinton to observe their boycott. They were not successful.

(Photo Credit: Rex Wockner)