Good Stuff from Joan Eisenstodt

 Boycotts can work; they can also hurt the people in service jobs who will suffer if there is less or no business. If an organization, company, or individual determines to boycott a company, city, state, or other entity, it should be undertaken with care and consideration after research is done.

The boycotts that began the US civil rights era in the 1950s were tremendously effective.  (The late) Rosa Parks, one of the people I most admire, effectively began the Montgomery, AL bus boycott.  Her refusal, after a long day of work, to give up her seat on a bus, moved others to act.

The boycotts in favor of the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) and for passing the Martin Luther King, Jr., birthday holiday impacted some and did lead to more action. 

Around the world, boycotts and demonstrations have been used to bring about change.  We now have before us in the US issues about which many (me included) feel strongly and are weighing what to do.  The recent election and passage of CA's Prop 8 and other similar laws that I consider to be 'hate' laws, make decisions more difficult.

My post here after the elections asked if groups were considering boycotts of states where what I and others consider to be hate laws were passed.  Some have taken the idea of a boycott to the Marriott Corporation.  In fact, a comment to the blog suggested a boycott of Marriott.

Here's where research pays off:  Bill Marriott, CEO & Chairman of Marriott, wrote in his blog that while he is a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS, also known as the Mormon Church), neither he nor his company contributed to the passage of California's Proposition 8.  Marriott Corporation is one of those that does provide partner benefits to same sex couples.  By doing so, Marriott is doing more than many companies in our industry.

Marriott has been recognized for their belief in and practices of diversity.  They go way beyond the corporate ‘norm.'

Would we like Marriott and other industry companies to come out in favor of issues that matter to each of us? Of course!  At the same time, is what they practice on a daily basis more important?

We have choices: to boycott, as many did and are doing, of hotels in California owned by Doug Manchester, going and doing business and writing letters to the editors of papers in those cities, posting on blogs, and writing to the corporations who can help make life better for many.  The laws recently passed will not be the last time we have to look again at social responsibility when we do business.

What will you do?  What will our industry as a whole do?  Who will join me in bringing pressure on our industry to do something about many issues of diversity about which they have been silent?