Phoenix gay chamber opposes immigration boycott
Wed. June 30, 2010 7:44 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
LGBT business organization says the boycotts already hurting their community
Phoenix, AZ -
The Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has joined in the fight over Arizona's controversial immigration law and is pleading with gay rights groups across the country to drop the boycott against their state.
The Phoenix-based gay business organization sent out an email to hundreds of its members, including the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, urging the two groups to rescind their boycott.
The email urged those opposed to Arizona's law to consider signing a statement denouncing it, rather than impose a boycott.
HRC continues to urge members not to bring conferences and meetings to Arizona.
"We're not backing off of this position, because we think it's a principled stand against SB 1070," Human Rights Campaign spokesman Fred Sainz told FoxNews.com. "We don't share the opinion ... that it's going to result in these things that the Phoenix folks do."
The Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce says the boycotts are already hurting their community.
In early June, more than 20 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality groups have signed a joint statement condemning Arizona's new immigration law.
Among the groups signing onto the statement were: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, Immigration Equality, National Black Justice Coalition, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, Out and Equal Workplace Advocates, International Foundation for Gender Education, Family Equality Council, Two Spirit Press Room, Equality Federation, National Minority AIDS Council, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Freedom to Marry, Gay Men's Health Crisis, Lambda Legal, BiNet USA, International Federation of Black Prides Inc., Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, SAGE, Atticus Circle, National Center for Lesbian Rights.
The Phoenix-based gay business organization sent out an email to hundreds of its members, including the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, urging the two groups to rescind their boycott.
The email urged those opposed to Arizona's law to consider signing a statement denouncing it, rather than impose a boycott.
HRC continues to urge members not to bring conferences and meetings to Arizona.
"We're not backing off of this position, because we think it's a principled stand against SB 1070," Human Rights Campaign spokesman Fred Sainz told FoxNews.com. "We don't share the opinion ... that it's going to result in these things that the Phoenix folks do."
The Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce says the boycotts are already hurting their community.
In early June, more than 20 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality groups have signed a joint statement condemning Arizona's new immigration law.
Among the groups signing onto the statement were: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, Immigration Equality, National Black Justice Coalition, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, Out and Equal Workplace Advocates, International Foundation for Gender Education, Family Equality Council, Two Spirit Press Room, Equality Federation, National Minority AIDS Council, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Freedom to Marry, Gay Men's Health Crisis, Lambda Legal, BiNet USA, International Federation of Black Prides Inc., Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, SAGE, Atticus Circle, National Center for Lesbian Rights.