We're making them nervous. Bill Marriott posted a letter on their website, distancing Marriott Hotels from the Yes on Prop 8 campaign:


The Facts About Marriott and California's Proposition 8
Posted: November 11, 2008 4:17:19 PM

As many of you may know I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some might conclude given my family's membership in the Mormon Church that our company supported the recent ballot initiative to ban same sex marriage in California. This is simply untrue. Marriott International is a public company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and is not controlled by any one individual or family.

Neither I, nor the company, contributed to the campaign to pass Proposition 8. The Bible that I love teaches me about honesty, integrity and unconditional love for all people. But beyond that, I am very careful about separating my personal faith and beliefs from how we run our business.

I am personally motivated to speak now because Marriott was built on the basic principles of respect and inclusion. My father, who founded this company along with my mother, told everyone who would listen: "Take care of your employees, and they'll take care of your customers, who will come back again and again." For more than 80 years, our company has grown and changed, but that basic principle still holds up. We embrace all people as our customers, associates, owners and franchisees regardless of race, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.Our principle is backed up with a formal diversity program, which we established more than 20 years ago. Our Board of Directors has also focused on this priority and helped us be a leader and a better company. We were among the first in our industry to offer domestic partner benefits, and we've earned a perfect 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for two years in a row. Many of our hotels have hosted LGBT community functions and events for years. I am very proud of all of our associates at Marriott. And I want all our associates and guests, whom we welcome into our hotels, to know that we embrace your talents and thank you for your many contributions and your business.

I'm Bill Marriott, and thanks for helping me keep Marriott on the Move.

I'm inclined to give the guy a break. As far as I can tell, neither he, nor Marriott Hotels, donated any money toward the Yes on 8 campaign. I think the argument that he tithes to the mormons from his income, which he receives from Marriott, is kind of bogus.

I've always enjoyed staying at Marriott Hotels, and they have hosted many gay events. I've enjoyed staying at the Marriott New Orleans during Southern Decadence, and the Marriott in Houston hosted Convergence a couple of years ago.

Some would compare this situation to our boycott of Coors Beer. I believe that's apples and oranges. The Coors family actively donates to and works for anti-gay causes. That's a case where there's a straight line from the gay consumer to the anti-gay causes. I see absolutely no evidence that this exists with Marriott.

Let's give the guy a break. I take some comfort in the fact that he felt he needed to distance himself and the company from the Proposition 8 campaign. He clearly understands the power of gay disposable income.