Following
Brunei’s decision last week to advance a series of penal code reforms
that will include stoning as a possible punishment for relations between
its LGBT citizens, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) sent letters to the leadership of several organizations that currently plan to host
events at American hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei.
Presently, the Aviva Family and Children’s Services, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, Cedars-Sinai Medical Hospital’s Helping Hand of Los Angeles, Colleagues Helpers in Philanthropic Services, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs, the Partners in Care Foundation, and Teen Line in collaboration with Sony Pictures all have events scheduled at the Beverly Hills Hotel over the next month.
Many charities and foundations that raise money and awareness for a
variety of important causes use these hotels for their events, and while
HRC supports many of those efforts, we feel strongly that they should
find new locations.
Below is an excerpt from the letter HRC President Chad Griffin sent to
organizations hosting events at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and the full
text is available here:
“There are a number of hotels and venues in the Los Angeles area that
aren’t owned by foreign leaders and governments that allow for the
execution of its LGBT citizens. We’re encouraging members of the LGBT
community and our allies to consider those options instead of the
Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air––which are part of the
Sultan’s Dorchester Collection. In addition, we’re calling on
organizations that have upcoming events scheduled at these hotels to
move them to other locations.
“I have attended various events at both hotels over the past several
years. But given the extreme nature of these developments, I feel
strongly that we in the LGBT community and our allies should take our
business elsewhere.”