Subscribe to Breaking NewsRuby-Sachs: Prop 8 Boycotts
I have pointed out before the ridiculous fact that the orchestrators of serious boycotts ( think Pepsi) are complaining that boycott threats justify eliminating fundamental public disclosure measures. I am heartened by the fact that the Judge hearing the petition by the Yes on 8 compaign was quick to explain the protected nature of the “harrassment” speech at issue.
But there is an important lesson to be learned here.
When your enemies jump up and down you need to start paying attention. The chief complaint in this lawsuit was the potential for retaliatory boycotts. So, we need to start boycotting.
Now, an effective campaign does not target low-level employees from the Yes on 8 list. Instead, the name of every small business owner, every CEO or managing partner should be identified and publicized. Our large organizations that are most able to lead on this issue should disseminate a list of business, both for California and for the enture country. We should have transparancy about why certain businesses made the list and why some did not. We should have guidelines about how to boycott and what to say when asked about the boycott.
This court ruling is an opportunity. I hope we take it.
http://californiansagainsthate.com/dishonorRoll.html
Here is the list of Prop 8 supporters from Californians Against Hate. It includes dollar amounts. While some of the largest donors are hate groups such as the AFA, a great many large donors lead companies that we can boycott. Most contributors are in California, but some are in other states.
I would like to see a more concise list: no extra information and bulleted points instead of paragraphs. That way, we could spend less time reading and more time getting our rights.
I believe this was a great day for everyone that the disclosure laws do just that, disclose the donors that stripped the rights of others away. The Prop 8 supporters fought so hard with their lies and major cash contributions to kick us and our civil liberties to the curb. They always seem to want it their way and nothing else.
We as a community need to now come together and do the right thing and let them know we and our dollars are not trash. Let all of your friends and allies know that boycotting those supporters is the right thing to do.
Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart!
where is this list?
To Emma Ruby-Sachs,
Well, before you jump up and down on Tiger Tzu too hard, re-read your article, you said NOTHING in it about clarifying the differences between small contributors and their employers. I do agree with not subjecting a business to boycott BECAUSE of a lower employee’s contribution, BUT say so if that is what you mean.
To TigerTzu,
Hear, Hear, honey! I agree!
I agree with the idea of boycotts of companies that have given in to the demands of the right wing. Personally , when companies have informed religious right groups that they intend to show respect for their consumer base , I write the companies and thank them for taking a courageous stand , and assure them of my continued business. I believe in positive reinforcement.
We should boycott them out of our LOVE for them; just as they LOVE gays (though hate the sin). Yes, we should LOVE them enough that we don’t want them tainted by being exposed to sinful homosexual money. After all, who knows what that money may be doing in the privacy of their cash drawers? Horrible things, I’m sure!
I believe we should take it a step farther. When our GLBTI brothers and sisters suffer injustice caused by these businesses and organization, we should rally behind them and boycott those businesses as well.
Firing someone because of who they sleep with is wrong – we’re fighting for equality, yet all too often we ignore the injustices caused every day by the “God Fearing” people. We should make it loud and clear when businesses that rely on our money and employ that they will suffer financially solely based on their bigoted actions.
My friend was just fired from a methodist church, a church which he was completely honest with about his sexuality. After a year of service, they let him go because of his sexuality. In this fragile economy, it is sickening to see someone fear for HIS financial future because suddenly “being gay” makes him a liability.
I for one will no longer tolerate the intolerance.
Just to let everyone know, you can go to the California Secretary of State website and download the contributors in excel format, sort by state and get a list of people in your area that supported Prop 8. It gives you the name, city, state and zip of the contributor. If you find a close neighbor on the list…..well, what you do is up to you. Time to make the war personal.
I find that I can bear their (businesses who funded Prop8) discomfiture with a certain amount of apathy.
Ain’t karma a hoot?
Rob – “Right-wingers have boycotted companies for having gay-friendly policies” – - IE, see the AFA’s little boycott of Pepsi that started within the last day or so, due to their support of LGBT groups, and employee’s.
TigerTzu – I do agree with Emma on “taking issue with boycotting Home Depot because one of their stock boys in California donated to the Yes on 8 campaign.”
Let’s start with Corps/CEO/Managing Partners/Owners that gave funds, then maybe send letters or something asking the “smaller people” why they voted that way and see if a little education would help them with not funding such things again. Myself would ask the person why they voted that way, and if they are against hearing the other side then so be it. Not everyone is going to flexible on the hearing of the other side. Remember the campaign never really said “gay” or “homosexual” in it. It was to save the family, some may have gave money to them to help and not knew the full details. And don’t start with the ignorance is not an issue. Propaganda is propaganda and it works, have worked for a very long time.
Example of what I am talking about … Save the Whales… OK, which Whales, would the funds go to the endangered ones first? Most people did not ask those types of questions, just sent money to Save the Whales…
Right-wingers have boycotted companies for having gay-friendly policies, but so far as I know, they haven’t boycotted companies because individual employees made political donations to liberal causes. If we start boycotting companies for their employees’ political donations, will the right wing retaliate? Will employers on both sides of the political spectrum respond by telling their employees not to make political contributions of any kind? If that happens, what becomes of the HRC?
TigerTzu, I don’t believe that I asked that small donors be ignored. All donation amounts are important. I was, rather, taking issue with boycotting Home Depot because one of their stock boys in California donated to the Yes on 8 campaign.
Lets see now there have been right wing boycotts against companies that have gay friendly policies and that is good. When gay people boycott the right wing that contribute to steal our rights that is bad. Is this called a double standard ?
I think the fact that they are whining about our boycotts shows that we are, indeed, having an impact. They wouldn’t be crying about it otherwise. I disagree with Emma concerning the small donors tho. Collectively, those “small donors” amassed a big chunk of change and did a lot of damage. We shouldn’t reduce hate to a dollar amount. They hate just as passionately and as feverently as their “big donor” couterparts. There is no less blood on their hands.