Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Shimmin: Is boycotting Cinemark a step toward equality?
Last week, I watched Keith Olbermann’s commentary on his MSNBC show, Countdown, as he proclaimed:
“I don’t have a personal investment in this: I’m not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.“And yet to me this vote is horrible. Because this isn’t about yelling, and this isn’t about politics. This is about the human heart, and if that sounds corny, so be it.”
Unlike Keith Olbermann, my experiences since the California vote against gay marriage have been extremely personal.
As a gay man and as a vice president at Cinemark Theatres (whose CEO, Alan Stock, has been singled out in blogs for his $9,999 pro-Prop 8 donation), this controversy has weighed heavily on me.
Two years ago, I was hired by Alan Stock, and my life partner and I relocated to Plano, Tex., from the San Francisco bay area. Moving to Plano and effectively leaving behind our cherished Domestic Partnership document, signed by California’s Secretary of State, took much consideration. As did the prospect of leaving the progressive Bay Area for life in a “red state.”
However, I quickly discovered - and the past two years have confirmed – that Cinemark Theatres is committed to treating its team members, customers, and colleagues with dignity and respect.
During my job interviews, I discovered that Cinemark has an LGBT liaison for community outreach; Cinemark provides domestic partner benefits for California team members; Cinemark hosts the annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival; and Cinemark works with the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce as well as the Collin County Gay & Lesbian Alliance to arrange advance screenings for movies of interest to the LGBT community.
My partner participates in company and industry functions at Cinemark and is treated as my spouse by everyone here. In short, the corporate culture at Cinemark is inclusive and the customer experience at our theatres is inclusive.
After all, movie theatres are a community melting pot; a destination where all members of the community can share in an entertaining, and sometimes educational, experience.
Am I troubled by Mr. Stock’s personal donation to the Yes on 8 campaign?
Yes.
Have I ever witnessed Mr. Stock’s religious convictions as a Mormon interfere with his fair and equal treatment of employees or customers of Cinemark Theatres?
No.
When a corporation or a religious institution takes a stance against equality, then it is our obligation to stand up and voice opposition.
Unfortunately, there are far too many organizations and religious groups that promote hate and intolerance. Organizations that have taken a position on this issue deserve to be judged by their actions. In fact, a list of organizations that made corporate donations in support of Prop. 8 is posted on the Human Rights Campaign website (www.hrc.org/prop8supporters).
However, the Human Rights Campaign recognizes that it creates a dangerous precedent when corporations are held responsible for the religious or political contributions made by an individual employee; even if that employee is the CEO.
Alan Stock’s donation was a personal decision based upon his religious convictions. He made this contribution as an individual and only reported the name of his employer and his job title to be in compliance with election disclosure laws. Cinemark Theatres did not make any financial contribution to either side of this California campaign.
According to Cinemark’s Chairman, Lee Roy Mitchell, “it would be inappropriate to influence our employees’ position on personal issues outside the work environment especially on political, social or religious activities. Individual political actions, especially those outside of work are independent, individual acts of personal expression.”
This internet-based movement to hold organizations responsible for the individual, private donations of their employees should create fear in all of us.
When I contribute to the HRC, Democratic Party, or local candidates that share my beliefs, I am required, by law, to publicly disclose my position as a vice president with Cinemark Theatres. Should my employer be boycotted for my private views? After all, I’m an officer of the corporation. If groups call for my termination because I am gay, how should my employer respond? Should Cinemark’s 15,000 team-members be impacted by a boycott? Some argue that the employees are “collateral damage” and “the end justifies the means.”
To me, those terms sound eerily familiar to the justifications for past oppressions.
I am proud of Cinemark’s commitment to diversity in our workforce and the range of viewpoints expressed in the films exhibited at our theatres. I am saddened by Alan Stock’s religious stance on gay marriage. But I am hopeful that people can differentiate between the actions of a company and the convictions of an individual.
Right or wrong, individuals must have the right to express their religious or political beliefs outside the workplace without fear of reprisal.
Be angry. Fight for change. We will win the battle for equality. But the battle will be won by cultivating support and understanding; not through blacklisting and misguided boycotts.
Bob Shimmin is Vice President, Food & Beverage, of Cinemark Theatres
Individuals may have the right to do what they want….and we have the right to be angry about it.
Don’t punish the company because the owner did something? Why not? That’s where the profits go!
Their CEO is benefiting from the gay community and using it to help deny us benefits. Giving partnership status to all gay couples not only those granted by states is the way to support equality. I am glad they welcome YOU and YOUR partner while working against US.
great comments, agree with most: my company gave partner benefits nationwide and long before we had our marriages recognized here in Mass, so I’m not at all impressed with Cinemark’s hollow gestures. Also, yes, as the CEO is held to a higher standard as an employee. His PERSONAL actions do reflect on the company. And yes regardless why spend money there when you know it goes to his salary. And yes how can this man live with himself still working there after that?
A couple points not made:
-He is v.p. of beverage. Another indication of lack of integrity. He sells a pound of sugar to obese kids to make money in the form of flavored sugar water!
-why do we go to the movies at all? they charge way too much for everything and it smells and the floors are sticky. Rent the DVD.
-Notice it was 9,999.99? I think he didn’t give an even 10k because he thought the bigger donors would be more public. Closeted bigotry is the most shameful.
-He said his contributions must list his company and job “under law”. I don’t give me company name..I think he is referring to his officership agreement which requires him (most likely) to always act as if he is representing the company, always disclose his political contributions TO the company and disclose the fact that he is an officer to the recipient. Most companies have code of conduct requirements for officers, he knew what he was doing.
-This VP guy is just suspect in general, relaying what they do for the lgbt community as if it compensates for the CEO’s action. This is a movie theater!!!! they HAVE TO have glbt outreach programs to succeed. Duh. They are NOT gay friendly.
I don’t go to the movies as I always vote with my wallet and i think they are an inefficient form of entertainment. But if I did I certainly wouldn’t go to a Cinemark theater after this donation and yes, it makes perfect sense.
sorry pal. Boycott them. I am not going to be sympathetic because they are “welcoming” to you at work. They have to be. Screw Cinemark and ANY other company that have donated $$$ or have people at teh top who donate $$$. Move back to California and fight.
I’m sorry but I refuse to give MY money to someone (or someone’s company) who supports a governmentally imposed prejudice toward me.
I don’t care what said individual may do within his company, in the community or anything of the sort. Fact of the matter is, he supports discrimination against me, therefore he has lost my business for life.
There is a Cinemark Theatre within 50 yards of my townhome but I will happily drive 15 minutes to give my money to another theatre. If I could request the THOUSANDS of dollars I’ve given to Cinemark over the years, back, I would.
He could announce that he is gay, or his son is gay, it wouldn’t matter to me. All that matters is that HE donated money to a Proposition that makes me a 2nd class citizen. So, just as he did, I am making a choice of who to give my money to, and it will not be him.
I don’t know that I can add anything to some of the brilliant and insightful comments that have already been posted here other than to say that it’s uplifting to see so many people standing up for what they believe in.
I see the uncovering of the contributions in favor of a YES 0n 8 vote as a clarion-call to lesbians and gay men, along with their sympathizers, young and older to come together and lead this country into the ever-growing global community of nations who no longer will tolerate separate, but “equal”.
To the Shimmin family: it may be time to pull up stakes!
Sorry, dude. It does matter that a CEO–the person most responsible for directing the culture of a corporation–contributes to a cause that explicitly denies people their civil rights. This is not a shades-of-gray sort of issue. You’re either on the side of civil rights or you are not. Maybe shareholders will see that their company’s bottom line IS affected by the bigotry expressed through its chief administrator. 15,000 people in the company should rally to see him removed!
I think the Human Rights Campaign has a different agenda. They have never cared about the grassroots and they don’t listen to us either. FYI, I am not supporting this boycott either, Nick.
I’m surprised at the responses here. Do you really think that employees (and the CEO is an employee) should be told what they can and cannot make personal donations to? Some of you have said fair enough for ordinary employees but the CEO is different. So, in other words, once you have excelled at your job, you should be punished by not being allowed a voice in our democratic society?! I don’t like his donation anymore than you do, but I like even less the sound of this boycott, it’s the kind of intimidation that our opponents in the Christain Right use all the time. It stinks. I’d like to think we are above all this, but the angry and insulting responses to this piece prove we are just as vengeful as they are. Shame, shame!
Seems like this is Mary Cheney all over again saying the exact same things when the Coors family supported Prop 2 in Colorado.
Seems the CEO of Cinemark is happy to use someone as a commodity who is apparently good at their job, but obviously has no real respect for them as a person. I personally would not want to work for anyone like that regardless of the financial perks. I will also be skipping Cinemark until they have a more ethical person at the helm. Making excuses for these people and supporting them is playing the same game they are and having as little respect for yourself as they obviously do. A CEO should know their actions reflect on the whole company, so the man is either stupid or he wanted to make a statement. It is only appropriate that the gay community respond to that statement. Gay dollars need to go to gay supporters not to people who are willing to use gay people for profit one day and then spit in their face the next.
Thanks Bob,
As you can see from the comments here there are a lot of stupid people that are just angry and nothing anyone says will matter to them. I am gay too. I am a little older and I would like to think a little wiser. I won’t be boycotting your company. Not because I like what your CEO did but because I don’t want people attacking me for the money I give.
Also this boycott is just plain dumb and does nothing for our cause. We need more people to support us and you can’t win hearts and minds with a stick or a boycott. I think when people cool off they will start to see how misguided this all is. Take care and thanks again for your letter.
Nick
Docpatmac,
How about the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
Bob, what you wrote is complete and utter bs. If Cinemark is so progressive and pro gay, then they should fire their CEO who is obviously not on the same page as them. If a company’s CEO was donating personal money toward the KKK would they still keep them at the helm of their empire? Tough cookies Cinemark! Until you fire your CEO, I have personally started a campaign in Vancouver to have the LGTB film festival switched to another location. Cinemark needs to walk the walk now…
Auntie Toms abound.
Actions have consequences.
Alan Stock needs to learn that.
Bud Burgoon-Clark
one of the 2nd class citizens created by Mr. Stock’s donation
BOYCOTT CINEMARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!