We’re Changing Our Name

http://www.rightsequalrights.com
It’s been just two years since a small group of friends and I started Californians Against Hate to draw attention to the mega-donors to California’s Proposition 8 campaign. It’s been a busy 23 months.

We began on July 18, 2008 by helping to assemble a coalition of LGBT organizations and labor in San Diego to boycott Doug Manchester’s three hotels. Doug Manchester had contributed $125,000 in very early money to quality and pass Proposition 8, which took marriage rights away from millions of Californians. Why should we support his three hotels, only to have that money used against us?

The Manchester Hotels boycott exceeded our wildest expectations. According to their own admission, the boycott is costing the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel alone approximately $1 million per month. This is due to dozens of canceled large meetings and conventions at Manchester’s flagship property, and thousands of individuals and businesses who refuse to cross our picket line.

Manchester also sold his Idaho hotel, and now rumors abound that his brand new $400 million Grand del Mar Resort in San Diego is in receivership. It has recently been reported that Global Hyatt Corporation may be buying a majority interest in his Manchester Grand Hyatt. The sale was just approved by the San Diego Port Commission.

We have led three other boycotts against the biggest donors to Proposition 8. We have settled two; one against Bolthouse Farms and another against Garff Automotive Group. Both had family members who contributed $100,000 to pass Prop 8. Now both companies are generous supporters of a variety of LGBT organizations.

Our one remaining boycott is against Terry Caster’s A-1 Self Storage Company. Terry Caster and his family gave a whopping $693,000 to Prop 8. Caster was even quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune saying that gay marriage “would create a sick society.”

During the summer of 2008, we discovered the active involvement of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) in Prop 8. The Mormon Church had taken over virtually every aspect of the Yes on 8 campaign.

Mormon families contributed approximately $30 million of the $40 million raised, the Church produced 27 slick commercials, put up an expensive web site, bussed in thousands of volunteers from Utah, had massive phone banks yet only reported a mere $2078 in non-monetary contributions three days before the election. Two weeks later I filed a sworn complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) against the Mormon Church for not reporting its vast financial involvement in the campaign.

The Commission prosecuted the case, and conducted an unprecedented 19 month investigation of the Salt Lake City based Church’s finances. Three weeks ago the FPPC found the Mormon Church guilty of 13 counts of late reporting and they were fined $5539. That was the first time a religion was found guilty of election irregularities in the 36 year history of the FPPC.

I also have done battle with the Mormon Church’s front group, the infamous National Organization for Marriage (NOM). I have challenged all of their false and misleading actions for the last two years. It was all of their arrogant and illegal campaign activities last fall in Maine that was the final straw.

NOM contributed over $1.9 million to take away that state’s recently passed right to marry for all, and completely disregarded Maine’s long-standing election law in the process. NOM was required to report all its contributor names of $100 and more to election officials. NOM refused, and continues to refuse to turn over their records, even after being ordered to do so by three federal judges and the Attorney General of Maine. I have attended three separate Commission meetings in Maine to make sure they comply with the Maine election law.

As a result of all my efforts, I was subpoenaed by the National Organization for Marriage last September as part of their federal law suit, ProtectMarriage.com v. Bowen. That law suit was filed in California by the official Yes on Prop 8 committee and NOM to invalidate all campaign reporting laws in California. They subpoenaed me strictly to harass me and make me spend a lot of money. Thanks to the generous support of so many of you who contributed to my legal defense fund, Five for Fred, most all of the legal costs have been covered.

Now as we take on new challenges and go in new directions, we have passed a Board resolution to officially change our name. From this day forward, Californians Against Hate will be known as Rights Equal Rights.

Our new name reflects our new direction and makes us more national in scope.

Rest assured, that I have never been more determined and motivated to help lead the LGBTQ community in our fight for full equal rights in this country.

Younger people who begin to realize that they might be lesbian, gay, bi-sexual transgender or queer will soon be afforded all the same rights as their brothers, sisters friends and neighbors.
That is what our founding fathers had in mind when they wrote in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

We will settle for nothing less.

Best regards,

Fred Karger
www.RightsEqualRights.com

News Release: San Diego Office Opens + Boycotts

Californians Against Hate Opens San Diego Office

Californians Against Hate Opens San Diego Office

Californians Against Hate Opens
San Diego Office

SAN DIEGO, CA – Fred Karger cut the ribbon earlier this week, or rather the caution tape, to officially open their first real office in the 301 University Building. The 301 Building is very unique. It houses a dozen different LGBTQ organizations in San Diego for very low cost in the old No on Prop 8 headquarters.

“We are excited to have an official office, and we’re thrilled to be in the 301 Building” stated Californians Against Hate founder, Fred Karger. “There are lots of new young activists working out of here, and it’s a wonderful place to be. Lots of future leaders all under one roof. It’s very encouraging to see, and we’re glad to be a part of.”

“Having an office in San Diego will enable us do more on our two remaining boycotts, Doug Manchester’s Hotels and Terry Caster’s A-1 Self Storage Company. Manchester gave $125,000 of very early money to qualify and pass Proposition 8, and Caster gave a whopping $693,000. We have led successful boycotts of both companies for over a year. Now we can ramp them up and utilize more volunteers in San Diego,” concluded Karger.

If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by. If you would like to volunteer, let us know: info@californiansagainsthate.com

Thank you!

Manchester Hotels Bleeding $1 Million
per Month = $16 Million

Recent estimates have determined that Manchester’s two remaining hotels are losing a combined total of well over $1 million per month. This loss is a direct result of the 16 month old boycott started by Californians Against Hate and Unite Here, Local 30. The downtown Manchester Grand Hyatt and the new resort property, the Grand del Mar are “bleeding money in canceled and lost bookings.” Sales at the properties are reportedly way down.

Swedish model, modeling a Boycott Manchester Hotels T-shirt at Stockholm Gay Pride Festival Last Summer.  Over 1 million people turned out for the 5 day celebration. This is part of the Manchester Hotels Global Boycott.

Swedish model, modeling a Boycott Manchester Hotels T-shirt at Stockholm Gay Pride Festival Last Summer. Over 1 million people turned out for the 5 day celebration. This is part of the Manchester Hotels Global Boycott.

Last April, hotel officials admitted to having lost $7 million in the first 9 months of the boycott, and the longer it goes on the worse it gets.

Five for Fred Gets off to Great Start

A BIG thank you goes out to so many people who pulled out their MasterCards, Visas and American Express cards and donated to Fred’s Legal Defense Fund, Five for Fred

It’s actually very easy to help Fred. You just need to go to the www.fiveforfred.com web site and click on the bright red DONATE button in the upper right part of your screen. It directs you to the ever so easy to fill out donation sheet. It only takes 42 seconds to make a difference. If you haven’t donated to help defray Fred’s mounting legal bills, please do it right now: Five for Fred

Contributions of $5.00 (the price of a latte + tip) and up have come in from generous donors in 25 states – from Arizona to Wyoming. It has been incredible, and is really helping to make a dent in the bills. Please help if you can.

Thank you one and all!!!!

More News From Californians Against Hate — Check it out.

CAH – News Coverage #17

New York Times Editorial — http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/opinion/29sat2.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Los Angeles Times — http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/california-offi.html

Boston Globe — http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2008/11/mormons_facing_1.html

The Colorado Independent — http://coloradoindependent.com/16550/prop-8-fallout-continues-with-mormon-campaign-cash-investigation-%E2%80%98dishonor-roll%E2%80%99

Contra Costa Times — http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2008/11/21/self-storage-firm-boycotted-for-prop-8-support
Winston-Salem Journal —
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/nov/26/mormon-churchs-role-in-prop-8-to-be-probed

Washington Blade — http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/12-5/news/national/13688.cfm

Examiner USA — http://www.examiner.com/x-443-Chicago-Gay-Examiner~y2008m12d5-Equality-Illinois-hosts-Marriage-Equality-community-forum-at-Center-on-Halsted-on-Dec-6

The Bottomline — http://psbottomline.com/tbl_news.html
Fox News —
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459544,00.html Fox News. Com — http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,457086,00.html

NBC 4 San Francisco — http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Gay-Rights-Activist-Files-Complaint-Against-Mormons.html

Local News 8 – Idaho Falls, ID —
http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=9412307&nav=menu554_2_2

Gay & Lesbian Times — http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13628
Christian Broadcasting Network —
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/488832.aspx

Catholic News Agency — http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=14457

Voice of the Deseret — http://voice-of-deseret.blogspot.com/2008/11/american-family-association-defends-lds.html

Edge Boston — http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=84115

Love Journal — http://culturesite.livejournal.com/151425.html

California Acorn — http://www.thecamarilloacorn.com/news/2008/1128/letters/010.html

Niqnaq — http://niqnaq.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/distractions-from-class-struggle

Progressive Involvement —
http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2008/11/mormons-investigated.html
Pride Depot —
http://www.pridedepot.com/modules/wordpress/?tag=terry-caster
The Soap Box —
http://theesoapbox.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-happens-if-youre-on-gay-enemies.html
DigiActive —
http://www.digiactive.org/2008/11/24/campaign-protests-against-proposition-8
F6 —
schrodt@ku.edu

Lez Get Real — http://lezgetreal.com/2008/11/money-bible-and-new-world-order.html
The Tattler —
http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/11/proposition-8mormon-church-probed-by.html

Vox Verax — http://voxverax.blogspot.com/2008/11/nyt-editorial-prop-8-campaign-money.html
Robert’s Virtual Soapbox —
http://virtualsoapbox.wordpress.com/2008/11/30/nyt-pieces-on-prop-8-the-black-vote-and-yes-to-probing-the-mormon-cult

NGBlog — http://nlsngrc.blogspot.com/2008/11/afa-wildmon-mormons-played-vital-role.html

San Diego New Service — http://sandiegonewsservice.com/?p=155

Stop the Mormons — http://www.stopthemormons.com/?p=473

Debate Politics — http://www.debatepolitics.com/breaking-news/40572-probe-into-lds-church-s-prop-8-donations-going-forward.html

Solo Homo — http://solohomo.blogspot.com/2008/11/little-good-news-today.html

Jonathan Turley — http://jonathanturley.org/2008/11/30/california-opens-formal-investigation-of-mormon-churchs-role-in-financing-proposition-8

The Town Hall Webblog — http://marlettsmith.com/blog/index.php/2008/12/02/interesting-items-1201

Political Mpressions — http://politicalmpressions.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/conscientious-consumerism

360 Degrees — http://360degrez.blogspot.com/2008/12/those-peace-loving-liberals-attack.html

Breeder Boy — http://breederboy.net/?p=4247

Daily Kos — http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/12/1/93516/9878/149/667005

Southern Illinois Catholic — http://soilcatholics.blogspot.com/2008/12/so-mormons-are-not-allowed-to.html

UNI Freethought — http://unifreethought.blogspot.com/2008/12/prop-8-musical.html

Watch Dog San Mateo — http://www.watchdogsanmateo.com/2008/12/do-you-store-your-stuff-at-1-storage-do.html
They Gave Us a Republic —
http://www.theygaveusarepublic.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1423

Religion Clause —
http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2008/11/focus-continues-on-mormon-leadership-of.html