Are You Joining the Mormon/Utah Boycott?

You've probably heard that in the wake of Prop 8's passage, many gay activists are calling for a boycott of any businesses connected to individuals who supported the measure. We can debate the effectiveness of boycotts all day, but I support them more as a matter of personal growth. If you can stick one out, you learn a lot about yourself and your habits, and I adhere to Socrates' maxim: "An unexamined life is not worth living."

But I may sit this one out and here's why. From the lists of Prop 8 supporters that I've seen, like this one, most of the business serve only California, and I happen to be on the other side of the country. No much I can do there.

There's also a call to boycott the entire state of Utah since it's so heavily Mormon. Honestly, that seems a bit unfair. The state itself didn't have anything to do with this. And there are gays in Utah, too (my condolences), and perfectly welcoming heteros. But again, I live on the East Coast, so Utah isn't on my list of must-visits at the moment. One, I can't afford it, and if I were to attempt snow skiing ever again (that bunny slope was out to get me!), then I can do so much closer to home.

There are a few corporations, however, that I could potentially boycott. The CEO of movie chain Cinemark contributed almost $10,000 to support Prop 8. There's a Cinemark theater near me, but--sad to say--I rarely go out to the movies anymore. So boycotting Cinemark really isn't a big sacrifice for me, and if you're going to boycott something, it should hurt!

Speaking of pain, the real deal may be to boycott Marriott Hotels. I've known the Marriott family is Mormon for a while (why do you think the Book of Mormon is always found in the nightstand along with the Bible?). The company itself didn't support Prop 8, but some activists say Marriott family members did. Here's where it would get tough. I love Marriott Hotels and all its brands. My partner and I have Marriott Rewards Points and, as much as possible, are loyal customers.

Here's where it gets interesting. Marriott has a great diversity program and a highly favorable rating from most national gay rights organizations. The Marriott CEO also wrote a letter supporting the gay community.
Keep in mind that most hotels are franchises and locally owned, so a boycott could backfire on people who may actually support us.

On a personal note, I already booked 2 nights at a Fairfield Inn (Marriott brand) for New Year's Eve. My partner and I desperately need a change of scenery, and if it weren't for our Marriott Points, we wouldn't be able to afford it. Our room will be free. So if I stick to the boycott, I would have to stay home. But we need a weekend away from the distractions of home and work in order to focus on each other.

So there you have it. Call me a traitor, but I'm sitting this boycott out. I'll find other ways to make my anger over Prop 8 known. Where do you stand?