Manchester Hyatt boycott continues

The LGBT community has been boycotting the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego since its owner-operator, Doug Manchester, contributed $125,000 to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign in 2008. That was the proposition that repealed same-sex marriage in California. This weekend, the American Historical Association met at the hotel for their annual convention, and a coalition of groups thought the time was ripe to remind people of the boycott with a rally.

Some 285 members of Californians Against Hate, Courage Campaign, Equality California and labor groups came together to rally outside the hotel. Click the photos to see them larger.
Nancy Egan, a UCSD history grad student, participated in the rally even though the AHA topics being discussed inside were of interest to her. Here she wraps caution tape around trees outside the Hyatt before the rally.

Longtime LGBT activist Cleve Jones (right) worked up the crowd while Californians Against Hate founder Fred Karger (left) spoke.

The activists circled the hotel twice, chanting "Boycott the Hyatt! Check out now!" Some carried a banner made just for this event, addressing the historians meeting inside.

After the crowd circled the hotel chanting, they partly made their way toward the main entrance before being stopped by security. They decided against going into the hotel's lobby.

Alright, I know rainbow flag photos are a cliché but this was really sweet. Felicity Bradley, left, and Kelsey Hoffman hugged and listened to speakers at the end of the rally.