Top Chef on Marriage Equality

Remember last fall’s boycott of El Coyote restaurant in West Hollywood by supporters of same-sex marriage after it was learned an owner had donated money to the campaign to pass Prop 8?

El Coyote had a sizable gay clientele on Thursday nights, the unofficial “gay night” at the restaurant, which packed the place. That all changed in the aftermath of Prop 8’s passing when the owner’s name appeared on donor lists that were available online and publicized by some media outlets.

Demonstrators appeared in front of the restaurant, business fell off on Thursday’s, the pilloried owner did herself no favors when she tried to explain herself, saying if she had a chance to do it all over again, she would do the same thing, citing her religious convictions.

Such a mess for such a mediocre restaurant.

Read more at: LA Metablogs!

Mormons Make Mistakes Too

The gay community is angry about the passage of Prop. 8, and we have a right to be. We have a right to demonstrate, and yes—even a right to boycott. We can bring giants down if we want to.  But I submit that an El Coyote boycott isn’t the right place to put our energy right now.

I personally was moved to tears in the meeting with Christofferson because I understand the deep conflict that her religious convictions can cause. I grew up in Utah, raised by both Mormons and Catholics, and I lost many of my friends after coming out to them 12 years ago. So I could empathize with Marjorie, who was clearly conflicted on the issue. But a boycott would probably put El Coyote out of business and 89 families out of work. Is that the best strategy for winning those undecided minds to our cause?  And when the business is gone, then what?

Read more at PeaceLoveLunges!

Restaurant Owner Regrets Prop 8 Contribution

From PeaceLoveLunges.com:

In a dramatic, closed door lunch meeting, a visibly shaken owner of El Coyote restaurant in Hollywood expressed regret in her decision to donate $100 to the “Yes on Prop 8″ campaign, but her remarks before a group of about 60 members of Los Angeles’ LGBT community fell short of an outright personal apology.

“I’m sick of heart that I’ve offended anyone in the gay community,” said Marjorie Christofferson, co-owner of the restaurant for 17 years. “I have family, friends, and co-workers who are gay, and you are all treasured people to me.”

The tall, frail Christofferson stood in the center of the group, distressed and visibly shaking during her prepared remarks which lasted about 3 minutes. Two young female family members flanked her to prevent her from fainting, according to a restaurant employee. At several points during her speech, Christofferson simply became too emotional to continue.

El Coyote has become the latest casualty in the local outburst against the passage of Proposition 8, an anti-marriage amendment to the California State Constitution. Dozens of e-mails and websites, including the popular online local guide, Yelp.com, have urged boycotting the legendary cafe in recent days.

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