Starwood Gets Political With Pastor Protection Act Opposition
Jennifer Billock March 10, 2016
Starwood Hotels sets an example for voters by writing to Georgia legislature to oppose a bill under consideration.
House Bill 757, touted as a protection for religious freedom, says that clergy in Georgia will not be required to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Although the legislature has presented it as a way to be inclusive of all religions, it’s opposed by others who say it legalizes discrimination.
Starwood Hotels is taking a stand against the bill and wrote a letter to Georgia’s governor, Nathan Deal, asking him to oppose the legislation.
“Although this bill purports to protect religious freedom, in its current form it effectively legalizes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, is antithetical to Starwood’s core values of diversity and inclusiveness, and will have significant adverse effects on Starwood’s business in the State of Georgia,” the letter states, signed by Kenneth S. Siegel, Starwood’s chief administrative officer and general counsel.
Starwood as a whole strives to create an inclusive culture, and Siegel says this new bill will put that culture in jeopardy.
“The religious freedom legislation being proposed in Georgia is contrary to the core value of inclusiveness we strive for at Starwood,” the letter says.
The company also worries that the bill will be a detriment to business practices in Georgia.
“We also believe this legislation will have a profound negative financial impact on our 17 managed and franchised hotels in Georgia as tourists, event planners and even corporations will react hostilely to this discriminatory legislation and will choose to take their business to locations outside of the State of Georgia,” the letter says.
[Photo: Starwood]
If this thing (HB757) passes, Georgia faces to lose out on a Superbowl. The NFL said they may exclude Georgia as a Superbowl location if HB757 passes. Along with the NFL many companies are showing opposition to this legislation. Home Depot, Coca cola and Delta airlines all based in Georgia. Apple too has expressed their opposition. The bill discriminates in more ways than one and many of the companies who oppose it state that HB757 is contrary to their beliefs, standards, and values of equality and diversity. Losing a Superbowl would mean a big loss to the local economy. Hotels lose. Local transportation services lose. Local car rental companies lose. Local gas stations lose. Restaurants lose. Food stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, and others lose. Parking facilities lose. Other tourist attractions lose. The list goes on.
Please note the image used did not come from me - the vast majority of images used on FT's articles do not come from the writers. The caption underneath it was meant to say that writing to legislature is a good example to follow, not specifically pro or against this issue - although I see how it could have been taken that way. Thanks for the feedback everyone!
Just to consider, Marriott's HRC Corporate Equality Index for 2016 100%.
I also agree with others in that the caption and rainbow clearly show Billock's bias and reveals this "article" is not journalism but an editorial or more simply a blog post.
Starwood will soon become irrelevant anyhow due to a buyout either from Marriott or the investment consortium. Starwood just offended those who adhere to religious rights and "the free exercise thereof" mentioned in the United States Constitution. Starwood's leadership = lame duck = hot air.