To: San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association

 

 

This September 10-13, the California State Bar will hold its Annual Meeting in San Diego at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.  The owner of the Grand Hyatt, Doug Manchester, donated a significant sum ($125,000) to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign, a November 4, 2008 ballot measure that resulted in the amendment of the California Constitution to eliminate the fundamental right of couples to marry regardless of sexual orientation.  Despite several requests from a variety of groups and organizations, including BASF, that the State Bar move the Annual Meeting to another location (as the Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations has done), the State Bar has refused to do so.

 

As a result, the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association joins BASF, Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF), and many other organizations in boycotting State Bar meetings and events held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. We are in full support of the public demonstrations of protest that BALIF will hold during the California State Bar Board of Governors Swearing-in Ceremony at the Manchester Grand Hyatt from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 12. 

 

So long as the California State Bar Board of Governors and President financially support the proponents of legislation to deny LGBT individuals the fundamental right to marry, they will not be supported by our organization.

 

We invite you to join us in the ongoing struggle for equality and civil rights.

 

Sincerely,

 

San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association