Proposition 8...News alert! Boycott Works. El Coyote donates cash to gay cause!

According to a morning daily - twenty two minutes after an announcement by protestors to reappear at the El Coyote restaurant in West Hollywood to voice their disapproval over an employee's support of Proposition 8 - employees coughed up $500 to donate to a fund to fight the anti-gay marriage ban!

The Boycott is working!

Ali Bay, a spokeswoman for Equality California, quickly noted to the media how the funds will be put to use.

"It will go toward our work and that includes working to overturn Propo 8. We're working legislatively and through the courts to promote equality for community."


In an earlier post, I noted that gay activists determined earlier in the week that an employee - Marjorie Christoffersen (a Mormon disciple) - donated $100 towards the vote "yes" on Prop 8 campaign.

Because El Coyote is a popular local eatery among gay residents in the neighborhood, the unexpected contribution stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy, when it came to light to opponents of Proposition 8.

Employees rustled up the contribution on short notice for a couple of reasons.

"Maybe it's a way to say sorry, that we have always tried to be a charity place, that we donate to a lot of places. It's something to show we can help also," employee Arnoldo Archila, noted solemnly to the press.

The protestors have been causing a lot of discomfort for employees (one called in and wondered to her superior if she should stay at home until the controversy blew over) and patrons alike.

A handful of customers saw a night of wining and dining go down in flames, ruined by loud protestors in the streets, for instance.

Manager Larry Crenshaw was on top of it, though.

He apologized profusely, then picked up their $50 tab.

I was a little upset to read that Crenshaw alleged that protestors shouted out vulgarities at patrons when they departed from the establishment, on the 2nd evening of protests.

While I support the picketing, and the vocal protesting, I think it is counter-productive to the cause to engage in low, demeaning conduct, that amounts to harassment.

Therefore, I strongly urge all activists involved in the protests to hold their heads high and tackle the cause with dignity and grace.

That issue aside, a quote by Abraham Lincoln merits thought, too.

"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men."

Proposition 8...boycotts taking effect! Yes voters cry foul...

Opponents of Proposition 8 have shifted gears after protests in the streets earlier this week caught the attention of the National media.

Now, gay activists are moving ahead to exert their economic power, by boycotting businesses which voted "yes" on the initiative to ban gay marriages in the sunshine (!) State.

Ron Prentice of ProtectMarriage.com has called "foul".

"No matter what your opinion of Proposition 8, we should all agree that it is wrong to intimidate and harass churches, businesses and individuals for participating in the democratic process," he argued to the media in recent days.

According to Prentice, boycotters are "unabashedly trampling on the rights of others."

Not true!

I agree that harassment, per se, is wrong.

However, boycotters do have a legal right to stand in the street with signs and protest the actions of individuals and/or businesses that engaged in a process that they believe denied their rights.

And, on Wednesday night, an angry mob did just that.

Hundreds of protestors converged on the El Coyote restaurant on Beverly Boulevard - much to the dismay of the owners of the establishment - who have (by the way) collected many "gay" dollars for goods and services over the years.

For some inexplicable reason, El Coyote Manager Marjorie Christoffersen elected to contribute $100 to the "Yes" on Proposition 8 cause, which resulted in the protest outside the popular eatery.

Although the disciple of the Mormon Church allegedly appeared outside of the restaurant - and broke down in tears over the incident - protestors were unrelenting.

As they should have been.

Yes, California voters are entitled to cast a ballot as they wish, and contribute funds for a proposed initiative they opt to back.

Likewise, gay individuals have a right to boycott individuals and businesses who vote "down" their lifestyle and their inalienable right to equality pursuant to the California Constitution.

If the voters who supported Proposition 8 had any integrity, they would follow through all the way.

For example, "Yes" supporters would not seek out "gay" patronage or support any gay businesses, to underscore how vehemently opposed they are to the gay lifestyle and same-sex marriages.

While supporters of Prop 8 are inclined to deny gays the right to marry and equal status - ultimately - businessmen in the area have no qualms about accepting gay pinkbacks.

Indeed, the backstabbers seek the best of both worlds, to their advantage.

Sorry folks, it doesn't work that way!

In the wake of the boycotts now underway, strident opponents to gay marriage are now whining about potential losses and belly-aching about the gay community's bold-faced efforts to hurt 'em where it matters most, in the pocketbook.

The gay community has got 'em by the short and curlies, so why let go?

Fred Karger, a retired political consultant and resident of Los Angeles, put it succinctly when he made a statement to the press recently about the issue.

"People are determining who their friends are and who are not their friends. People need to be held accountable for their financial support."

Those interested in boycotting businesses (and individuals) who donated money in support of Proposition 8 may surf to the "Californians against Hate" website to determine who the culprits are and act accordingly.

http://californiansagainsthate.com/

Robert Hoehn (a VP at Hoehn Motors in Carlsbaad) - who contributed $25,000 in support of Prop 8 - is now suffering a lot of angst over his misstep.

He vowed to a reporter that in the future he'll find a discreet way to contribute funds without being found out by the gay community.

Well, he hasn't learned a thing on the heels of the controversy, now has he?

A boycott of Hoehn Motors should commence immediately.

Let's put that bozo out of business, straight away, folks!

Meanwhile, Ms. Christoffersen (El Coyote employee) left town.

If these individuals feel so strongly about the cause, and that what they did was politically and morally correct, why are they hiding their faces now?

Guilt? Shame? Conscience?

Well, to me, that signals a glimmer of hope...