SAN DIEGO, Calif. - September 22 - The Courage Campaign and Equality California today launched a new web site and email campaign to ask their members and supporters across the state to join the boycott against San Diego hotel magnate Doug Manchester, a major Prop. 8 donor who has struck back to undermine a successful boycott against his properties.

The web site is SayNoToManchester.org, where supporters can join the boycott by signing a pledge not to patronize Doug Manchester's hotels.

The following is a joint statement from Geoff Kors, Executive Director of Equality California, and Rick Jacobs, Founder and Chair of the Courage Campaign:

"San Diego hotel owner Doug Manchester gave $125,000 to anti-gay campaigners in January of last year—an early infusion of cash that paid for the signature-gathering to get Proposition 8 on the ballot.

"In response, Californians Against Hate teamed up with the hotel workers' union Unite Here to lead a boycott of the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel and the Grand del Mar Resort. The boycott has cost Doug Manchester $7 million at the Hyatt property alone, and shown that there are consequences for those who attack the rights of minority groups, advocate discrimination and oppose the rights of workers. For more than a year, Manchester has refused to meet with those leading the boycott, and he has never apologized.

"Instead, his latest strategy is to try and break the boycott by offering free conference rooms to LGBT organizations if they'll break ranks and hold events at his hotels. He's also tried to give away $25,000, but found no one who would accept it. He first offered the cash to any national organization that supports "civil unions," then to Equality California, which refused the offer, and now to any "registered 501(c)3" that will apply. The money is a tax write-off for Manchester and could never be used to fund a ballot initiative to repeal Prop 8.

"San Diego LGBT, labor, and progressive leaders and organizations have already pledged not to let Doug Manchester’s scheme divide our community. Today, the Courage Campaign and Equality California are calling on our members across the state to join the boycott and show that we are united.

"The Courage Campaign and Equality California also join other organizations in vowing not to take Manchester's money or patronize his properties until he makes a public apology and negotiates an honest, fair resolution with boycott organizers."

The Courage Campaign is a leading multi-issue advocacy organization that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots activists to push for equality and progressive change in California. Members set the Courage Campaign's priorities and fund its campaigns through thousands of small-dollar donations. Victories include helping stop the GOP's scheme to weaken California's electoral votes, making sure "double bubble" ballots were counted in the 2008 presidential primary, and closing the "yacht tax loophole" that let millionaires and CEOs shift their tax responsibility onto ordinary Californians. www.couragecampaign.org