San Diego Pride Responds to GLAAD Withdrawal of Planet Out's "Pride Rocks" Event at Manchester Hyatt

San Diego -- San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride today issued a firm statement disassociating itself from a weekend hotel package that included GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) membership and an invitation to a "pride party" planned July 18, at the Manchester Hyatt in downtown San Diego. The announcement immediately followed a statement by GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) that it would not support the event as previously intended, after learning that the hotel's owner, Doug Manchester, has contributed $125,000 to a California anti-gay marriage initiative.

"San Diego Pride is not affiliated with the Manchester Hyatt `Pride Rocks' event -- and we certainly do not endorse the impression that the event is related in any way to San Diego LGBT Pride," said Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride.

deHart went on to say that, "We applaud GLADD's swift action to withdraw from the `Pride Rocks' event with the Manchester-owned property, and we fully support their call to the community to do the same. Not only does the Manchester Hyatt give an impression to the public that Pride is involved, some will truly think they are supporting a LGBT organization when in fact the hotel's owner is clearly not supportive of the LGBT community."

After GLADD announced it will not have a relationship with the Manchester-owned property and its withdraw from the "Pride Rocks" event, Planet Out, the event organizer, announced it would move the event away from the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

News of Manchester's support for a ban on LGBT marriage was revealed recently by the San Diego Union-Tribune, reporting that Manchester, among several other San Diego businesses, lead the way in contributions in an effort to put the anti-gay marriage issue on voting ballots.

Throughout the month of July, San Diego Pride will present a series of events celebrating its 34th anniversary, culminating with a Pride parade on July 19, and a two-day festival in Balboa Park on July 19 and 20. Manchester Hyatt is not host to any official Pride events.

For more information about official San Diego Pride events, visit the web site: SanDiegoPride.org, or call 619-297-7683.

(Editor's Note: For further statements from San Diego Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte, call 619-925-3794 or 619-297-7683, ext. 103.)

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