Mike Tidmus

Chant of the day: People, people, can’t you see, how it is hypocrisy! 
(all photos below: mine)

Under gray San Diego skies, approximately two hundred union and GLBT activists and supporters convened beneath the palms in front of Doug Manchester’s downtown Hyatt hotel. Scheduled to speak to the International Franchise Association, convened at the hotel, this afternoon was former-President Bill Clinton.

The problem was, in order to give his speech, Clinton would have to cross a union-sanctioned picket line and face a crowd of GLBT protesters, angered by the hotel owner’s contribution of $125k to the forces behind California’s Proposition 8, which eliminated marriage equality in the state.

When Clinton and his people were made aware of the underlying issues several days ago, they answered with a meh! and advised GLBT activists to take a look at all the former President had done for GLBT American citizens. 

Right.

We’re finally, about to eliminate once and for all, two key pieces of Clinton’s legacy of contempt for the GLBT citizens who worked to help him get elected — not once, but twice: the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — a policy that hits many GLBT San Diegans serving in the military particularly hard.

Near the end of today’s rally, Rick Jacobs, Chair of the Courage Campaign, and veteran GLBT activist and Names Project founder Cleve Jones attempted to deliver a petition, with over 37,000 signatures gathered in roughly two days, that asked Clinton to reconsider and do the right thing by relocating his speech to another venue. They were turned away by the Hyatt doorman and security.

Former-President William Jefferson Clinton delivered his speech and walked away with his pockets stuffed with cash.

Here is a small collection of images from the Hyatt rally today.

Sara Beth Brooks, Founder and Executive Director of the San Diego Equality Campaign, welcomes the crowd

A crowd of 200 or so turned out to support our union brothers and sisters and to give Prop-H8 donor, Doug Manchester, a piece of their minds

Veteran GLBT activist and Names Project/AIDS Quilt founder Cleve Jones speaks about the urgency of coming out and fighting for GLBT rights

Taking time for a photo-op

People came for many reasons — most of them deeply personal

Rick Jacobs, Chair of Courage Campaign, lays out what the day is about and why it is important that our voices be heard

Rick Jacobs holds up the Courage Campaign petition with over 37,000 signatures asking former-President Clinton to do the right thing and cancel or relocate his speaking engagement. Jacobs and a few others attempted to deliver the petition to former-President Clinton

A United moving truck passing by reflected the resolve of the crowd as former San Diego City Council candidate Stephen Whitburn spoke

San Diego Pride’s Executive Director Ron deHarte speaks

Sara Beth Brooks leads a rousing chant. Sara told the crowd that, at the last union/GLBT demo at the Hyatt, there were complaints from the 35th floor about the noise. Maybe next time they’ll opt for a classier hotel

Todd Gloria, San Diego City Councilmember, inspires the crowd

Kicking up the volume, Maricruz Garcia of Unite Here! San Diego leads a rowdy chant session

Near the end of the rally, delivering the not-unexpected news that ex-Prez Bill Clinton refused to accept the petition. L-R: Pride at Work, San Diego Chapter, Co-Chair Carlos Marquez, Cleve Jones and Rick Jacobs

Earlier posts on Clinton’s speech at the Manchester Hyatt:

• Bill Clinton’s speech is on for Sunday
• Do the right thing, Mr Clinton!
• Bill Clinton, labor and Prop 8

UPDATE (02/16 02:19 pm): The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that former-President Bill Clinton tried to change the venue for his speech Sunday:

Former President Bill Clinton delivered a speech as planned Sunday at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego, but he worked behind the scenes to relocate his appearance in the days prior, according to a letter from his chief of staff.

The letter, dated Friday and sent to a union representative, states Clinton accepted the invitation to address the International Franchise Association without knowing that union leaders and opponents of Proposition 8 had launched a boycott of the hotel in July.

“Upon receiving your letter, we made several attempts to change the venue,” Laura A. Graham wrote to Brigette Browning of Unite Here!, a labor union that represents hotel workers.

I wrote about Brigette Browning’s response to the Clinton staffer’s letter this past Saturday:

Brigette Browning, President of UNITE HERE Local 30, the hotel workers’ union in San Diego, reports, “Instead of honoring the boycott, the President’s office sent me a letter cataloguing all the great things he has done for the gay community and labor movement. I think it speaks volumes that President Clinton will be inside the hotel speaking to a business group with a large federal PAC rather than out on the sidewalk with grassroots activists and immigrant workers. They shouldn’t have wasted the paper they printed that letter on. We are incredibly disappointed in our former President.”