Queer to the Left held a press conference in front of the Congress Hotel May 6 to explain the situation at the Congress, and why LGBT people ought to boycott the hotel. The hotel is the home base hotel for the Memorial Weekend Bear Pride events. Speakers included two strikers who have served the Bear Pride event in past years who would like to appeal to participants to stay elsewhere this year, as well as lesbian and gay HERE (Hotel & Restaurant Employees union) members. The Congress is the only downtown hotel that did not sign an agreement with HERE last June (that includes sexual orientation nondiscrimination language as well as domestic-partnership benefits), and instead forced wage and benefit cuts.
‘People coming to … Bear Pride are coming to have fun,’ said Jeff Edwards. ‘We want them to have fun, and can’t imagine how gathering at a hotel under these circumstances can be much fun. It’s never fun to be caught in the middle of someone else’s fight.’
‘HERE Local 1 has supported its own LGBTQ members and key LGBTQ concerns, negotiating a contract that includes nondiscrimination language regarding sexual orientation, as well as domestic partner benefits,’ QTL said.