Originally Posted by itsaboutthejourney

It appears you have some intolerance for people seeking answers and asking difficult questions. Sure my OP came from a skeptical premise that Marriott was less than SPG in terms of working with and treatment of LGBTQ persons and their community. Part of my assumption was based on brand perception: Marriott tends to be more conservative and values consistency (can be read as traditional) while SPG and many Starwood brands are more innovative and appear to market/cater to the LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly community. There can be no wrongs in seeking information, especially info that this thread produced calming my fears and changing my perceptions (partially) of Marriott.

As to the Mormon factor, you can talk about judgment and intolerance going in both directions, but the social and political agenda of the Mormon Church as an organization (hello Prop 8, etc.) has goals to restrict and limit my liberties; so your chiding LGBTQ persons to be more tolerant comes across as lacking empathy. Of course on an individual level, we shouldn't assume every Mormon hates the gays, but its fair game to question the Church as an organization and it's historical ties to Marriott. Which to your point: it's one thing to assume Marriott is anti-gay and be steadfast with that assumption, and another to read this thread and be informed/have your opinion changed.

Again, I think your word choices earlier were inflammatory and offensive, especially if you take the premise of this thread into account and see the amazing amount of information, first-hand, and second-hand knowledge that was contributed by our fellow members as well as the historically civil tone of this forum which I believe you are fairly new to posting in. (Again, kudos to SkiAdcock for her research throughout this thread).

(And I'm shocked to be in agreement with KENNECTED on something, but fully agree that focus/scrutiny is likely more important for the franchisees/individual owners of the SPG/Marriott brand properties.)