www.gay-sd.com


FROM PAGE 1 HYATT


tion 8 for the ballot. The measure overturned a ruling that briefly made same-sex marriage legal in California. The recent protest, this time


held outside Hyatt’s new boutique hotel, Andaz San Diego, was part of a 15-city demonstration against Hyatt Corporation organized by U.S. and Canadian labor union UNITE HERE. The protest was organized in response to what its members view as the corporation “squeezing workers and cutting staff” while boasting $1.3 billion in cash on-hand (more than any of its competitors at the end of 2009). However, the demonstration—co- inciding with the two-year anniver- sary of the first organized boycott


NEWS


FROM PAGE 1 HOUSING


community gives me the opportu- nity to educate myself and educate others.” Originally founded in 1984 to


address the short-term needs of low-income individuals with HIV, Townspeople has since changed its focus. By helping its clients find permanent housing, the organiza- tion makes it easier for tenants to access support organizations pro- viding medical care, food and em- ployment services. In 1995, Townspeople bought


More than 200 protesters demonstrated in front of the Andaz San Diego Hotel on the first day of Comic-Con, several failing at their attempt get arrested in an act of civil disobedience. (Pat Sherman/GSD)


ego,” Commerford said via e-mail, noting that the hotel offers do- mestic partnership benefits such as medical leave, bereavement pay and relocation expenses. “The hotel also annually sup-


ports the acclaimed Mama’s Kitchen program and we look for- ward to once again becoming an active member of the Greater San Diego Business Association (GS- DBA),” Commerford said. Though a GSDBA representa-


Controversial hotelier Doug Man- chester will gain interest in Hyatt properties in Chicago and Atlanta.


of the Manchester Grand Hyatt— still drew LGBT picketers. Brigette Browning, president


of the local UNITE HERE chapter, was among a group of about eight people that blocked the entrance to the Andaz hotel, in an unsuc- cessful attempt to be arrested in an act of civil disobedience. “The way Hyatt hasn’t repudiat-


ed Doug Manchester [also] is un- acceptable to us,” Browning said. At the protest, a Hyatt repre-


sentative handed out a prepared statement noting the corporation’s support of LGBT groups such as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). The handout also stated that a local group (lesbian news source, FlawLes) hosted several parties at the Andaz during Pride. For the LGBT community, the


question of whether to continue the boycott remains a hot-button. Though Manchester’s request


to diminish his interest in the twin-tower hotel was approved by the San Diego Port Commission in July, the agreement is still be- ing negotiated between Manches- ter and Hyatt Hotels. Should an agreement be


reached, Manchester would re- tain a minority stake in the San Diego hotel, while gaining inter- est in two additional Hyatt hotels in Atlanta and Chicago. Asked if Hyatt Hotels intends


to remove Manchester’s name from the San Diego property, Kel- ly Commerford, the Manchester Grand Hyatt’s director of market- ing, said he was unable to com- ment on pending transactions. However, Commerford, who


is openly gay, said separating the Hyatt Corporation’s longstanding support of its LGBT employees from the hotel owner’s decision to bankroll an antigay initiative has been a challenge. “There have been some


misperceptions created about Manchester Grand Hyatt San Di-


tive declined to comment for this story, the IGLTA continues to praise Hyatt Hotels for backing the LGBT community. “That property is a large con- vention hotel with many LGBT


employees,” IGLTA President and CEO John Tanzella said of the Manchester Grand Hyatt. “Our association doesn’t condone boy- cotts. No matter how well-intend- ed the approach, we know it will cause hardship to many people who are LGBT or welcoming to our community in the process.” Fred Sainz, vice-president of


communications for the Human Rights Campaign, agreed, to an ex- tent. While Manchester’s personal actions may have hurt LGBT people, Sainz said, Hyatt Hotels received a 100 percent rating on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, which


see Hyatt, pg 11


its first property, an eight-apart- ment complex on Wilson Avenue in North Park. In 2005, the organi- zation purchased the orange, two- story apartment building where Sandoval currently lives, and after renovations to a new property on 34th Street, which is expected to be completed by the end of summer, Townspeople will manage a total of 66 units. Other than nine former ten-


ants who qualified to stay at the new property because of their low- income status, all of Townspeople’s residents are HIV positive. At any given time, there are


between 700 and 800 HIV-positive San Diegans waiting for housing through Townspeople’s services, said Jon Derryberry, Townspeo- ple’s executive director. “We’ve got 30 families that have a high priority [for the new hous-


July 30-August 12, 2010 GAY SAN DIEGO


5


ing],” Derryberry said. “Some are in cars, some are with friends, and some are in and out of homeless- ness.” Derryberry said the organiza-


tion is working toward maintaining 500 available apartments by 2017. According to a 2009 study


commissioned by the Los Ange- les Homeless Services Author- ity, posted on the Townspeople website, supportive housing costs significantly less than supporting a homeless population. The study, titled “Where We Sleep: the Cost of Housing the Homeless” states that it costs the public $2,897 per homeless person on the street— largely consisting of emergency medical services—and only $605 per individual in supportive hous- ing, where tenants have access to regular medical care. “If I was on the streets, us-


ing drugs, then I would be more susceptible to end up in the emer- gency room and my health would be very compromised,” Sandoval said. “Now I go to the doctor on my regular checkup and I take a lot less medication. My health has improved.” Along with housing, Towns-


people also helps facilitate support services to tenants through various organizations like Stepping Stone, Mama’s Kitchen and Special De- livery that provide food or health care. Townspeople also has a food bank that delivers groceries once a month, and, when needed, provides drug intervention for residents.


see Housing, pg 9


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